Diversity Journal - Women Worth Watching 2016

® Summer 2016 $35.00

GLOBAL COMPANIES FOR ADVANCING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 15th Anniversary Edition Inside this issue

158 PROFILES CELEBRATING THE 2016 WOMEN WORTH WATCHING AWARD WINNERS. HIGHLIGHTING THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND APPLAUDING THE COMPANIES SUPPORTING THEM.

Catherine Powell Présidente of Euro Disney S.A.S. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Tricia Wilber EVP, CMO and GM of Disney Media +, EMEA The Walt Disney Company

Lynwen Brennan EVP and General Manager Lucasfilm

Rosalyn Durant Senior Vice President, College Networks ESPN

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR

Women Worth Watching AWARD WINNERS.

is honored to have four leaders—Catherine Powell, Tricia Wilber, Lynwen Brennan, and Rosalyn Durant among this year’s honorees.

Thank you for helping us create moments, memories, and magic that last a lifetime.

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PUBLISHER'S COLUMN

Since 1999

®

PARTNERING WITH DIVERSITY MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

FOUNDER/CEO/PUBLISHER

James R. Rector EDITOR

Ruth Hawk I am bursting with excitement to share this amazing 15th anniversary edition of Women Worth Watching®. This year sparked the largest nomination pool in history of accomplished women who are advancing all of us toward a better future. That spark ignited our team and fueled us to broaden our scope toward partnering worldwide for diversity and inclusion for all.

VP OF OPERATIONS

James Gorman DESIGNER

Dave Potokar

On the following pages we proudly profile 158 women leaders who, as a whole, are doing business across virtually every sector while providing strategic direction across the marketplace spanning six continents - Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

CORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHER

While our editorial team was championing the success of these women, it dawned on me that these passionate women are courageous, persistent, and inspirational in sharing their journeys to help others everywhere. As we recognize and celebrate their remarkable stories, the common themes emerging include women pushing boundaries and propelling others to success. These women are partnering with diversity while setting a standard for being able to do virtually anything you set your mind to. The sky is the limit for these trailblazers and they are a refreshing inspiration to us all. We hope you enjoy reading about them and their employers as much as we did profiling them!

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Among them are players from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Top litigators with headline-grabbing cases who are shaping the legal, corporate, and consumer landscape. Well-known driving forces in global capital markets at the helm of high stakes banking and finance. Others are reshaping the utility landscape, developing the creativity behind our top entertainment, leading space exploration initiatives that will take us further into the solar system, developing cutting-edge technologies shaping what’s coming in our future, and yet others making deals happen at a networking site with 450 million members that’s translated into 24 languages.

These award-winning women are a driving force in transforming change across the diversity and inclusion landscape. We applaud each of them for tipping the scales for their accountability at the highest levels in taking action on the issues that impact so many. We’re honored to share their stories with you.

As we all know, the diversity, inclusion, and human capital areas are broadening, becoming more competitive, and evolving quite rapidly. As we work toward achieving equity for all, the ultimate common ground is making the world a better place. These women are at the forefront!

Our congratulations to each of the 2016 Women Worth Watching award recipients and a special thanks for sharing your journeys that set us ablaze here at Profiles in Diversity Journal.

We are grateful to provide you with in-depth coverage on the emerging and ever-changing landscape occurring across the diversity, inclusion, and human capital markets. Thank you all for sharing in our special 15th anniversary celebration of Women Worth Watching.

Partner with us in Diversity!

James R. Rector, Publisher and Founder profiles@diversityjournal.com

Hal Stata

HUMAN RESOURCES

Vicky DePiore Elena Rector

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alanna Klapp Susan Schmeichel

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Profiles in Diversity Journal Gemini Towers #1 • 1991 Crocker Road, Suite 600 • Westlake, OH 44145 Tel: 440.892.0444 • Fax: 440.892.0737 profiles@diversityjournal.com SUBSCRIPTIONS

15th Anniversary Issue $35.00 1 year subscription (4 issues) $29.95 2 year subscription (8 issues) $54.95 Canada, 1 year subscription $34.95 Canada, 2 years subscription $64.95 International, 1 year $ 65.00 International, 2 years, $ 125.00 U.S. funds only. Subscriptions can be ordered at: www.diversityjournal.com or call customer service at 800.573.2867 Copyright © 2016 Rector Inc. SUBMISSIONS

REPRINTS: profiles@diversityjournal.com EDITORIAL: ruthhawk@diversityjournal.com PHOTOS & ARTWORK: art@diversityjournal.com FOLLOW US AT:

twitter.com/diversityjrnl scribd.com/diversityjournal facebook.com/diversityjournal linkedin.com/diversity-journal Profiles in Diversity Journal® is a quarterly magazine dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, higher education, and military sectors. For more than 18 years, we have helped to stimulate organizational change by showcasing the visionary leadership, innovative programs, and committed individuals who are making it happen.

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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IN THIS ISSUE Since 1999

®

03 12 14 201

| | | |

PUBLISHER’S COLUMN EDITOR'S HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN WORTH WATCHING

PASSING THE TORCH - EMPOWERING WOMEN

203 | CORPORATE INDEX 206 | HISPANIC HERITAGE

15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WOMEN WORTH WATCHING®AWARDS

TABLEOF CONTENTS Companies listed in alphabetical order 3M Tamie Minami Vice President Latin America ................................................ 14

Allegheny College Ande Diaz Associate Provost for Diversity & Organizational Development............... 20

Aflac Incorporated June Howard Senior Vice President Financial Services Chief Accounting Officer............................17

American Airlines Heather Garboden Vice President Financial Planning.........................................22

Akraya, Inc. Sonu Ratra Co-Founder President...........................................................18 Alcoa Vas Nair Executive Vice President Human Resources and Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability...........................................19

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American Express Nicole Stoner Director Head Supply Chain Inclusion....................24 Applied Materials Joanne Bal Managing Director Legal Services................................................26 Arrow Electronics, Inc. Allison Sabia Vice President, General Manager of eCommerce Global Components.....................................27

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Assurant Brazil Ana Paula Almeida Santos Legal Director.................................................29

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64 Assurant, Inc. Rebekah Biondo Vice President, Strategy and M&A........................................ 30 Assurant, Inc. Tammy Schultz President Global Preneed Business.............................31 AT&T Jennifer Biry Senior Vice President Finance..............................................................32 AT&T Anne Chow President Integrator Solutions.................33 AT&T Kay Kapoor President Global Public Sector Solutions............... 34 AT&T Norberta Noguera Vice President Security & Advanced Applications.........36 Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider Gail Gottehrer Partner...............................................................37 Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law Leticia Diaz Dean and Professor of Law.......................38

Booz Allen Hamilton Dorothy "Dee Dee" Helfenstein Senior Vice President..................................39 Brinker Capital Amy Magnotta Senior Investment Manager..................... 40 California Community Foundation Nike Irvin Vice President Programs............................42 Campbell Soup Company Tara Smith Deputy Corporate Secretary and Corporate Counsel.............................. 43 Canadian Mental Health Association York and South Simcoe Rebecca Shields Chief Executive Officer.............................. 45 Capital One Emilia Lopez Managing Vice President US Card Upmarket....................................... 46 Carmeuse Lime & Stone Melissa Croll Vice President Human Resources.........................................47 Catalyst Brande Stellings Vice President Corporate Board Services........................ 48 Cathedral Capital, Inc. Brooke Lively President......................................................... 49

CBRE Jennifer Ashley Global Director of Human Resources........................................ 50 Charter School Business Management Inc. Heather Blumberg Director..............................................................51 Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP Brenda Herschbach Jarrell Partner Co-Chair of IT and Life Sciences Group............................52 Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP Melissa Tearney Partner Government Enforcement Group...........53 Cisco Francine Katsoudas Senior Vice President Chief People Officer.................................... 54 Comcast Corporation Myrna Soto Senior Vice President Global Chief Information Security Officer..............................................56 Cooper Standard Christine Krathwohl Vice President Global Supply Chain & Corporate Officer......................................57

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There’s Wealth in Diversity We promote a diverse and inclusive corporate culture At RBC Wealth Management, we recognize and value the many important contributions of women. Which is why we promote an environment where women can be successful. And why we deliver programs and tools to help women create the futures they want—for their clients, for themselves ... and for the people they care most about.

For more information, please visit www.rbcwm-usa.com.

Congratulations Janet Engels for being named one of the Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching!

Janet Engels Director Portfolio Advisory Group – U.S. Equities © 2016 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Cox Automotive, Inc. Nuan Openshaw-Dion Vice President Professional Services...................................58

DIALOG Tania Oppedisano National Director of Human Resources....................................67

Cox Automotive, Inc. Jane Gitere Senior Director Commercial Sales..........................................59

Diverst, Inc. Lucy Keoni Senior Advisor............................................... 68

EY Leslie Patterson Partner...............................................................76 FedEx Jill Brannon Senior Vice President International Sales........................................77

Cox Automotive, Inc. Lydia V. James Senior Director Inside Sales..................... 60

Elektrobit Manuela Papadopol Director Business Development and Communications.................................. 69

Cox Automotive,Inc. Patty Turner Senior Director of Corporate Services...................................61

Entergy Texas, Inc. Sallie Rainer President & Chief Executive Officer.......................... 70

Craig Communications Tracy Craig Principal/Owner.............................................62

Equis Staffing Carrie Nebens President...........................................................71

Dechert LLP Catherine Botticelli Partner...............................................................63

ERA Real Estate Sue Yannaccone President & CEO............................................73

Delta Air Lines, Inc. Meg Hopkins Taylor Associate General Counsel........................65

ESPN Rosalyn Durant Senior Vice President College Networks..........................................74

FordHarrison LLP Tiffany Downs Partner...............................................................82

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Jocelyn Evans Vice President Enrollment Management............................75

Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer LLP Valerie Ford Jacob Partner.............................................................. 84

Denny's April Kelly-Drummond Director Diversity Affairs & Multicultural Engagement.................... 66

First Tennessee (First Horizon National Corp.)

Lynne Walker Executive Vice President Director of Affinity Banking Strategy...........................................78 Fish & Richardson Natalie Arbaugh Principal............................................................79 Fish & Richardson Linda Liu Kordziel Principal........................................................... 80 Fish & Richardson Cynthia Johnson Walden Principal.............................................................81

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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WOMEN WORTH WATCHINGÂŽAWARDS Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Vicky Jandreau Director of GROWTTH North America................................................85 Full Circle Insights Bonnie Crater President & Chief Executive Officer.......................... 86 Garden City Group, LLC Christi Cannon Senior Vice President Marketing & Development.........................87 GE Linda Boff Vice President Chief Marketing Officer...............................88 Georgia Power Lisa Smith Region Manager Metro South Region.....................................89 Gibbons P.C. Camille Otero Director Real Property & Environmental Department.................. 90 Girl STEM Stars Kiwoba Allaire Founder and CEO..........................................91 Great Basin Scientific, Inc. Sandra Nielsen Senior Vice President of Sales Marketing & HR.............................93 Greenberg Traurig, LLP Annapoorni Sankaran Shareholder.....................................................95 HARMAN International Jessica Garvey Vice President & General Manager Headphones & Wearables......................... 96 HARMAN International Sripriya Raghunathan Vice President Systems and Software Engineering.........................97 Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth Nicole Perkins Executive Vice President Managing Executive.................................... 98 Haynes and Boone, LLP Kenya Woodruff Partner.............................................................. 99

Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP Dorit Ungar Black Founding Partner........................................102 Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP Blair Kaminsky Associate........................................................103 Honeywell UOP Rebecca Liebert President and Chief Executive Officer...104 HP Inc. Tracy Keogh Chief Human Resources Officer............106 Hudson Allergy Julie Kuriakose Co-Founder and Physician...................... 107

TABLEOF CONTENTS

Latham & Watkins LLP Sarah Ray Partner Global Co-Chair of Women Enriching Business.....................120 Leadspace, Inc. Sherrod Patching Vice President of Customer Success....................................... 121 Legg Mason Global Asset Management Ursula Schliessler Chief Administrative Officer................... 122 Levenfeld Pearlstein Angela Hickey Executive Director...................................... 123

IAC Applications Niti Bashambu Chief Analytics Officer..............................108

Lincoln Financial Group Jamie Ohl President Retirement Plan Services......................... 124

ICON Information Consultants Pamela O'Rourke President & Chief Executive Officer.........................109

Linkage Laura Stone Vice President Inclusive Leadership.................................. 125

Imprint Plus Kristin MacMillan President.........................................................110

LinkedIn Lora Blum Vice President Legal - Corporate & Assistant Secretary................................ 126

Integra LifeSciences Corporation Abigail Epane-Osuala Human Resources Leader.......................... 111 Jones Walker LLP Marjorie A. McKeithen Partner.............................................................. 112 Juniper Networks Lisa Guess Vice President of Systems Engineering............................. 113 Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP Linda Kornfeld Managing Partner Los Angeles Office...................................... 114 Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP Jennifer Recine Partner New York Office............................................ 115 Kelly Services Dinette Koolhaas Vice President & Operations Leader, EMEA Region................................................. 116

HD Supply, Inc. Susan Stucker Vice President, Legal................................ 100

KeyCorp Trina Evans Executive Vice President Director of Corporate Center.................. 118

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Caroline Tsay Chief Digital Officer & General Manager, Software..................101

KPMG Tracy Benard National Managing Partner Advisory.......................................................... 119

LinkedIn Joanna Pomykala Senior Director Sales Productivity....................................... 127 LinkedIn Shannon (Stubo) Brayton Chief Marketing Officer Senior Vice President Corporate Communications.................... 128 Lucasfilm Lynwen Brennan EVP & General Manager........................... 129 Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP Heather Kissling Partner and Chair Biotechnology............................................... 131 Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP Katherine Neville Partner............................................................. 133 Mayer Brown LLP Lisa Ferri Partner & IP Practice Leader.................. 134 MillerCoors Britt Dougherty Senior Director Marketing Insights...................................... 136 Mindtree Ltd. Joelle Smith Vice President & Global Head - Travel, Transportation and Hospitality.............. 137

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Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp Melanie Figueroa Managing Partner New York Office........................................... 138 Moss Adams LLP Bertha Minnihan Partner............................................................. 139 MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Marianne Bamonte Managing Director Head of Global Trust Services ..............140 NASA Johnson Space Center Vanessa Wyche Director of Exploration Integration and Science............................. 141 Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Leah Schleicher Partner............................................................. 142 New American Funding Patty Arvielo President........................................................ 143

DRIVING Our Success

Celebrating all of this year’s Women Worth Watching, especially our Cox Automotive team members, Jane Gitere, Lydia James, Patty Turner and Nuan Openshaw-Dion.

We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

New Jersey State Bar Association Denise Sharperson Assistant General Counsel and Director of Diversity Initiatives.....................................144 New York Life Kelli Parsons Chief Corporate Communications and Marketing Officer............................... 145 New York Power Authority Kristine Pizzo Senior Vice President Human Resources and Enterprise Shared Services.....................146 Northwestern Mutual Kimberley Crews Goode Vice President Communications & Corporate Affairs.....................................148 Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Ester Banque Vice President and Head Immunology & Dermatology Business Unit................................................149 Pay it Forward Processing Renee VanHeel Founder and President.............................150 Plan International Canada Deborah Singh Vice President Organizational Effectiveness................... 151 PNC Bank, N.A. Alicia Powell Managing Chief Counsel........................... 152 Prudential Financial, Inc. Michele Alcazar Vice President Operations & Systems............................... 153 RBC Wealth Management-U.S. Janet Engels Director Portfolio Advisory Group......................... 155

Reed Smith LLP Kit Chaskin Partner - Global Director of the Women's Initiative Network.......................................................... 156 Renzei Holdings, Inc. Julia Huang President Chief Executive Officer............................. 157 Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP Julia Lu Partner............................................................. 158 Robins Kaplan LLP Kathleen Flynn Peterson Partner............................................................. 159 Rocana Rachel Taylor Vice President of Operations.................160 Rockwell Collins Dorothea Henderson Staff Vice President Technology Services & Operations................................................. 162 Salt River Project Lori Singleton Director of Customer Programs & Operations Support............................... 165 SAP Penelope Delgadillo Valencia SVP, Global Audience & Strategic Partner Marketing.......................................166 SAP Zarina Lam Stanford Head of Marketing Asia Pacific & Japan................................... 167 Seasons Linda Conklin President Chief Executive Officer............................. 168 Sodexo, Inc. Deborah Gutierrez Schloss Regional Vice President Operations..................................................... 169 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Tracy-Gene Durkin Director........................................................... 170 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Eldora Ellison Director............................................................ 171 Stikeman Elliott LLP Ramandeep Grewal Senior Counsel............................................. 172 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Sharon Nelles Partner............................................................. 173 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Vanessa Scott Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.................................. 175 Syniverse Mary Clark Chief Marketing Officer............................. 176

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TABLEOF CONTENTS

15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WOMEN WORTH WATCHING®AWARDS

Terex Corporation Linda McAvoy President Terex Financial Services........................... 177 Textron Systems Kim Schleiff Vice President of Marketing and Communications................................. 178 The Walt Disney Company Disneyland Paris Catherine Powell Presidenté of Euro Disney S.A.S..................................180

Troostwijk Auctions & Valuations Ghislaine Duijmelings Chief Executive Officer............................. 185 Ulmer & Berne LLP Patricia Shlonsky Partner-In-Charge....................................... 186 UnitedHealth Group Vidya Raman-Tangella Head of Innovation Center of Excellence.................................. 187 UnitedHealthcare Community & State Ana Fuentevilla Chief Medical Officer................................. 188

The Walt Disney Company EMEA Tricia Wilber EVP, CMO and GM of Disney Media +, EMEA.......................... 181

Universal Reprographics Inc. Rikki Gerson-Parry Chief Executive Officer.....................................189

Thermo Fisher Scientific Sue Rice Senior Vice President Human Resources....................................... 182

Vectren Corporation M. Susan Hardwick Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer.................................. 191

Totum Wealth Min Zhang Chief Executive Officer............................. 183

Walden University Janet Williams Dean Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership....................... 192

Toyota Motor North America Janette Hostettler General Manager, Paint, Plastics, & Plant Engineering and Environmental.....................................184

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. Kimberly R. Scardino Senior Vice President Global Controller & Chief Accounting Officer..................... 193 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Phyllis Harris Senior Vice President General Counsel Legal Operations.........................................194 WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Kelly Munson Senior Vice President Division President and Medicaid Product....................................196 WilmerHale Jeannie Rhee Partner............................................................. 197 WilsonHCG Kim Pope Executive Vice President Recruitment Solutions...............................199 YMCA of the USA Lynda Gonzales-Chavez Senior Vice President Chief Diversity Officer................................200

2016 Women Worth Watching award recipients not appearing in this issue include: Zoe Diamadi (LinkedIn, former Senior Director Business Operations); Shellie Frey (Golden State Foods, Group Vice President Corporate Communications); and Lia der Marderosian (Wilmerhale, Partner).

APPLIED MATERIALS CONGRATULATES

Joanne Bal Named one of this year’s

Women Worth Watching Joanne Bal, Managing Director Legal Services

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DEAN LETICIA M. DIAZ

PH.D., J.D.

BARRY LAW CONGRATULATES DEAN LETICIA M. DIAZ FOR BEING NAMED AS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S WOMEN WORTH WATCHING.

EDITOR'S COLUMN

Presenting the 2016

T

hroughout the past 15 years, Women Worth Watching® has inspired, advanced, and applauded the achievements of women executives around the world.

Throughout this special anniversary edition, we celebrate this years’ 158 Women Worth Watching award recipients and honor the companies encouraging, supporting, and embracing their success.

These women were nominated by their employers, colleagues, peers, and mentors for amazing achievements. On the following pages, we showcase their purpose, success, and drive for diversity within their spheres of influence. Their stories demonstrate distinguished leaders who are truly making a difference throughout our world!

Behind each of these women is an organization with a culture for nourishing growth and achievement. While we applaud our women leaders, we also shed light on the companies and organizations that are empowering, supporting, and employing these incredible women.

These employers have made the link between diversity, performance, and improved business outcomes. Now, they are embracing change, building cultures, and encouraging innovation and growth for a sustainable and competitive advantage in the marketplace.

In tackling diversity head on and meeting its challenges, they are integrating diversity and inclusion into their business practices, realigning processes and cultures, and serving as valued role models for others 12

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

looking to do the same. Many of these companies are already seeing a tremendous payoff. They are more strategic, innovative, and manage risk better because they are bringing varied experiences and insights to the table.

When Profiles in Diversity Journal launched its inaugural Women Worth Watching issue back in 2002, it was rare to hear of a women at the helm of an S&P 500 company. We have since chronicled a movement and revealed a developing pipeline of leaders whose passion and potential is now at the forefront. Today, women hold nearly 4.6 percent of leading CEO roles and about 20 percent of the top board seats. Some call it revolutionary, others simply reality. Regardless, significant progress still needs to be made as diversity and inclusion increasingly become essential for success in the global marketplace. Regardless of gender, race, age, sexuality, or disability – embracing diversity and inclusion is simply good business – it’s the right and moral thing to do.

Congratulations to the 2016 Women Worth Watching and the companies encouraging, supporting, and embracing their success. Together they are forging ahead with global acclaim with excellence in the workplace, marketplace, and our world!

Ruth Hawk Editor in Chief ruthhawk@diversityjournal.com

& applauding the companies supporting their success

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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TAMIE MINAMI VICE PRESIDENT LATIN AMERICA 3M

Company: 3M Industry: Manufacturing & Technologies CEO: Inge Thulin Employees: 89,446 Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota

THIS 3M VP’S GLOBAL CAREER IS BUILT ON DETERMINATION, INTEGRITY, AND TRUST

A

s 3M’s Vice President of Latin America, Tamie Minami is responsible for successful and sustainable business growth and operations in 20 countries across the area. She lives by three words: determination, integrity, and trust.

execution. As part of her career path, her responsibilities expanded in 2000 as a business development manager for two divisions of 3M Japan. She subsequently returned to a role for the U.S. market as a marketing operations manager and few years later was appointed Six Sigma Master Black Belt in 3M’s Personal Care and Related Products Division.

Born in Japan, Minami’s career at 3M launched more than two decades ago as a pharmaceutical product manager in Australia. Her career She went on as a managing director has since surged in markets across in Switzerland and about three years the globe, including North America, later returned to the United States Europe, Asia and now South America. as vice president of 3M’s Homecare Division. Minami describes that Minami’s colleagues say she transition as her biggest career knows just when to engage the leap, saying the key take away was right resources at the right time to maximizing talented team members drive outcome-based decisions and by providing them freedom to excel achieve strong results. As a strategic at what they did best. “My role was and pragmatic thinker, she’s quick to provide a clear direction and make to understand the dynamics of 14

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

sure the team worked as one for the common goal,” Minami said.

She relocated to Southeast Asia in 2013 as a regional vice president, where she was instrumental in designing and implementing a new regional market approach to serve customers without borders. Among her professional activities, she’s involved with the new 3M Leadership Way program. As part of this, she’s traveled to India with an executive team proposing solutions to some of the country’s challenging issues related to the impact of climate change on farming.

She believes diversity is essential for 3M’s longevity and profitable growth. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology; University of Sydney, Australia. PDJ

Be inspired.

Be ingenious.

Belong.

3M is where individuality is celebrated. Where you’ll connect and take risks. Where you can truly be yourself and be heard. Where you’ll shine.

I’m in. Are you in?

Connect with us Explore opportunities at 3M.com/careers

© 3M 2015. All rights reserved. 3M is a trademark of 3M.

2 0 1 6 W O M E N W O R T H WATC H I N G The flock at Aflac wishes to congratulate

J U N E H O WA R D Senior Vice President; Chief Accounting Officer for being named a Woman Worth Watching.

This is another fine feather in your cap.

One Day Pay SM available for most properly-documented, individual claims submitted online through Aflac SmartClaim ÂŽ by 3 p.m. ET. Aflac SmartClaim ÂŽ not available on the following:Disability, Life, Vision, Dental, Medicare Supplement, Long-Term Care/Home Health Care, Aflac Plus Rider, Specified Disease and Group policies. Processing time is based on business days after all required documentation needed to render a decision is received and no further validation and/or research is required. Individual Company Statistic, 2015. Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. Worldwide Headquarters | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, Georgia 31999.

Z160725

7/16

Leading the way Vectren Corporation congratulates all of the Women Worth Watching honorees, including our own Susan Hardwick. Your commitment to promoting a culture where individual talents are recognized and rewarded is inspiring.

Thank you for your more than 16 years of service to Vectren, all of which have been fueled by your commitment to serve and passion to improve those around you.

Susan Hardwick Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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JUNE HOWARD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER AFLAC

AFLAC’S CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER MENTORS THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS J une Howard joined Aflac in 2009 as vice president of financial services. She was promoted to senior vice president the following year and again to chief accounting officer just a few months later.

Company: Aflac Industry: Insurance CEO: Dan Amos Employees: 9,500 Headquarters: Columbus, GA

strategically designed to bring more synchronicity to the company’s global business practice. The project was completed within budget in record time.

A valued member of the Aflac team, Howard is responsible for financial reporting and control, accounting policy, investment accounting, corporate tax, and budgeting. She’s made a tremendous impact on Aflac’s accounting practice.

Prior to Aflac, June worked at ING and her biggest career leap to date came from a promotion to head up its financial reporting area. Her team tripled in size and she had much success in managing the larger group.

“I learned that delegation was the key to my success,” Howard said.

One of her most successful initiatives was the global implementation of a new general ledger. As part of this, she led a joint United States-Japan team and created a program called “All Aflac.” It’s

She’s an advocate for women’s professional development. As part of her initiatives, she hosts the Finance Women’s Lunch, an informal meeting that encourages Aflac’s female staff in Japan to pursue career goals. She’s

also actively involved with programs such as Aflac’s Bold Moves, Girls Inc., Women’s Tea, and the Global Women’s Leadership Conference in Tokyo. Her key objective is to create opportunities to mentor and pass the baton to the next generation of leaders. “It’s my responsibility to be a role model for the next group of women,” she said.

Howard believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is authenticity and that a positive attitude is essential. She lives by the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” PDJ

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Company: Akraya, Inc. Industry: Staffing CEO: Amar Panchal Employees: 83 Headquarters: Santa Clara, California

SONU RATRA CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT AKRAYA, INC.

INSPIRING OTHERS

BY MAKING A DIFFERENCE

S

onu Ratra is co-founder and president of Akraya, Inc., a staffing company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Her story is truly inspiring. She arrived in the United States 20 years ago after quitting a job at the largest consulting organization in India. She had two suitcases, $50 in her pocket and a dream to build a better future.

“I learned that life has great surprises in store for you when you don’t fear the unknown,” Ratra said.

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Today, Akraya, Inc. has a presence in seven countries, an offshore location in India, Fortune 500 customers, and a loyal employee base.

This year, Ratra launched Women Back to Work, a workforce re-entry program that aims to solve two key problems that companies encounter: lack of gender diversity and highly skilled, experienced talent. The program is a free service for women providing a platform to re-join the workforce after a long hiatus.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Ratra serves on the board of directors at the Institute of Economic Empowerment for Women as part of her initiatives to champion peace through business in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Earlier this year, she was appointed to serve on a delegation in Rwanda, Africa.

Among her numerous professional activities, she’s also active with the Astra Steam Summit where she inspires girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to pursue their dreams. Working closely with the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, she’s accountable for building and empowering diverse suppliers, and arming business owners with the strategies and tools necessary to grow their companies.

She is the recipient of a variety of awards for her extensive efforts in diversity and executive leadership.

“I am fortunate to work with the most amazing Akraya team to build a great company,” Ratra said. “I have the responsibility and the opportunity to give back to the society, community, and our environment.”

Ratra’s educational background includes Symbiosis University | MPM, Human Resource Management; Tata Institute of Social Sciences | MS, Social Sciences; University of California, Los Angeles - The Anderson School of Management | MDE; The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth | Tuck Executive Education.

Her career is spawned by passion, perseverance and panache. Her story is one of a young Indian girl who’s lived the American dream. PDJ

VAS NAIR

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY ALCOA Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Alcoa Manufacturing Klaus Kleinfeld 58,000 New York City

ALCOA EXECUTIVE DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING TALENT

A

s a member of the senior leadership team at Alcoa, Vas Nair brings a wealth of global talent expertise from a variety of sectors around the world.

In looking at talent scenarios, she draws on her extensive HR experience in Asia, Australia and the United States, which has spanned the pharmaceutical, financial services and consumer products sectors. Nair joined Alcoa last year as its Chief Talent and Diversity Officer, and shortly thereafter she was promoted to Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability.

She’s made it a priority to innovate and transform the HR landscape, launching technology as a tool for bringing talent best practices to Alcoa’s leaders. For example, Nair piloted a mobile coaching app with the executive team, and has

re-galvanized Alcoa’s employee resource groups as another way to promote inclusion and develop diverse talent across the company.

In her first year at Alcoa, Nair quickly mobilized Alcoa’s HR professionals worldwide around talent development as a key business driver. Building on Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld’s exhortation to drive high performance teams, the HR professionals on Nair’s team are now keenly focused on enhancing employees’ career experience.

Nair extends her passion for nurturing talent outside of her role at Alcoa, too. In 2016, she was honored with the Red Cross Quinn Award for her support of the Red Cross Mission. She has served on the board of the American Red Cross New Jersey Chapter since 2008, and leads pro bono workshops on leadership, coaching, emotional intelligence,

team building, and communication skills. She also serves on the board of Alcoa Foundation, one of the largest corporate foundations in the United States.

An advocate for women in the workplace, Nair emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-confidence in women leaders.

“Remember, you have earned a seat at the table. Know your strengths and leverage them. And also know your gaps, while surrounding yourself with experts,” she said. Ultimately, though, “be the captain of your own ship. Bosses come and go, so don’t purely rely on them to advance your career,” she added. Nair holds an MBA in Strategic Human Resources, University of New England, Australia; and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Management Studies, Wollongong University, Australia. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Allegheny College Higher Education James Mullen 500 Meadville, Pennsylvania

ANDE DIAZ

ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR DIVERSITY & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLEGHENY COLLEGE

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY Dr. Ande Diaz is an educator differences is one of the proven with 20 years of expertise in higher strategies that can change the world. education who gets up every morning Her colleagues say she’s as equally at to help build an inclusive democracy. home when challenging institutional Diaz is the associate provost trustees as she is mentoring student for diversity & organizational activists. From coaching colleagues on development at Allegheny College, gender identity to teaching students a private liberal arts college known about implicit bias, to directing for its rigorous academic programs programs on religious diversity, Diaz in Northwestern Pennsylvania. She’s brings her knowledge and passion passionate about advancing diversity, to help people engage and learn inclusion, and civic engagement in across differences. She holds the higher education and in society. creative tensions around issues of social inequities, freedom of speech, On campus, she’s known as a intellectual risk and emotional collaborative leader and bridge safety so communities can engage in builder. Her colleagues say she leads difficult dialogues across differences. by example to envision, inspire, and implement concrete institutional transformation. Her work includes providing strategic direction for faculty and staff development around issues of diversity and inclusion.

She believes that dialogue across 20

Diaz lives by the words “walk with beauty,” a Navajo saying meaning there is beauty everywhere. “This saying reminds us to notice how we spend our most precious currency of all - our attention,” she said.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Diaz holds a BA from Yale University, an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate University.

Her experience across the higher education sector includes longitudinal research consultant at Tufts University; media, arts and public service career advisor at Harvard College; assistant dean for multicultural affairs and interim director of the Pace Center for Community Service at Princeton University; and associate dean and director of the Intercultural Center at Roger Williams University. Diaz identifies as tri-racial and bi-cultural with Puerto Rican and Scotch heritage. Not surprising, some of her extensive research areas include inter-ethnic alliances and intergroup dialogue. PDJ

Alcoa_WomenWorthWatching_VasNair_2016_HalfPage.pdf 1 6/22/2016 6:01:51 PM

Diversity:

Our Competitive Advantage Congratulations to the remarkable “Women Worth Watching,” including our very own Vas Nair. We are inspired by your leadership and commitment to advancing women in every workplace, from the board room to manufacturing operations.

Alcoa is a stronger, more competitive company because we make inclusion through diversity a priority, and a key driver of continuous innovation.

A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world.

Y

www.alcoa.com

Advancing each generation.

Three cheers for April.

We take great pride in congratulating our very own April Kelly-Drummond, Denny’s Director of Diversity Affairs & Multicultural Engagement, for being named a 2016 Woman Worth Watching. Thank you for your leadership and outstanding contributions to our company, community and employees.

Denny’s is an equal opportunity employer. © 2016 DFO, LLC

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HEATHER GARBODEN

VICE PRESIDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING AMERICAN AIRLINES

Company: American Airlines Industry: Transportation/Aviation CEO: Doug Parker Employees: 100,000+ Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas

AMERICAN AIRLINES VP EXCELS AT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER Heather Garboden is responsible for the capital and operating budget, long-range financial planning, forecasting systems, and the corporate purchasing department for the largest airline in the world.

Garboden’s colleagues say she’s an outstanding leader with the ability to bring people together for successfully developing creative solutions that deliver results.

Garboden joined American West (which merged with US Airways, which ultimately merged with American) in 2003 in the revenue management section and has held various management roles in yield management and domestic and international pricing, the backbone to success at any airline.

Her career track record includes financial support and analysis for 22

joint collective bargaining agreements that resulted in industry-leading compensation for American Airlines employees. She’s also managed over $1 billion in annual capital spend related to IT, aircraft reconfigurations, facilities, customer experience and marketing.

Earlier this year, she was promoted to American Airlines’ vice president of financial planning. Looking back at her career, she describes her first manager role as her biggest career leap, since it was a position on a new team. “It gave me the experience of managing a new group, which is something that has continued to happen throughout my career, even in my most recent role,” Garboden said.

In her professional affiliations, she’s an advocate for fellow female colleagues as a steering member of

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

the Women’s Leadership Program.

It’s designed to provide resources and learning opportunities for women looking to advance their careers. She’s also active with the company’s Do Crew employee volunteer program and has been involved with Junior Achievement, and Phoenix Suns Charities, an organization serving children and youth in Arizona.

Garboden’s guiding principles are work hard, have a good attitude, and learn from mistakes. “As long as I work at an airline, it will never be boring and there is always an interesting project or initiative to work on,” she said.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Villanova University. PDJ

Bravo!

We congratulate our very own Kimberly Scardino, Senior Vice President, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, for being named to this year’s “Women Worth Watching” list. Her leadership, vision and hard work champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy.

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

American Express Financial Services Kenneth Chenault 55,000 New York City

NICOLE STONER

HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN INCLUSION AND DIRECTOR, PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS AMERICAN EXPRESS

AMERICAN EXPRESS EXECUTIVE PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION

N

icole Stoner is accountable for overseeing American Express’ award-winning supplier diversity program. She’s accountable for testing opportunities to integrate suppliers, including diverse suppliers, into the company’s overall business strategy.

Under her leadership, the program has grown by 75 percent over the past two years.

Stoner is recognized across the company as someone who genuinely takes the time to understand what the business needs, and then makes it happen. Her colleagues say she’s passionate about transformation and fearless when it comes to change.

There’s a sign on her desk that reads: “Conformity: When People Are Free to Do as They Please, They Usually Imitate Each Other.” She says it keeps her focused on being the woman that others want to imitate.

Stoner joined American Express a decade ago as a deal team lead in the Global Commercial Payments division. During her tenure, she’s consulted on payments best practices and supported the acquisition and/ or retention of nearly a billion dollars in business-to-business charge volume. She’s been a leader and 24

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

mentor in American Express’ Global Business Services organization since its creation, winning the Corporate Services Excellence Award and the Centurion Award for enterprise-wide transformation excellence.

When American Express formed its shared services business unit in 2010, Stoner jumped at the opportunity to head its new transformation PMO, build out the business management infrastructure, oversee a $750 million portfolio, and sponsor innovation and best practice sharing initiatives across cross-functional enterprise teams.

She then joined the procurement executive office as chief of staff to the chief procurement officer, where she served as a respected voice to provide transformational best practices and thought leadership to external sharedservices organizations. At the time, she implemented a strategy to reduce procurement operating expenses by 10 percent and fund $1.5 million in new source-to-pay investments.

Outside of the office, Stoner serves on the Board of Directors for the Culinary Historians of New York.

She holds a BA in English from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. PDJ

American congratulates Heather Garboden as a Woman Worth Watching.

Holwell Shuster & Goldberg llp is proud to celebrate

Dorit Black and Blair Kaminsky on their recognition by Profiles in Diversity Journal as Women Worth Watching.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!

750 Seventh Avenue, 26th Floor • New York, NY 10019 • 646.837.5151 • hsgllp.com

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JOANNE BAL

MANAGING DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE TO ACCELERATE CHANGE W

ith two decades of expertise in the legal profession, Joanne Bal is known for rising to the challenge to accelerate the pace of change.

As the managing director of legal services at Applied Materials, Inc., colleagues say her creative problem solving approach, combined with strong analytical skills and business acumen make her a real asset to the company. They say she’s always willing to step out of her comfort zone and seeks out ways to help others succeed along their career paths.

Colleagues say her excellent judgment and pragmatic leadership skills inspire confidence in others and are regularly sought out by business leaders within the company. Bal lives by the golden rule of treating others the way you would like to be treated.

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“This type of empathy builds the trust and loyalty necessary for both personal and professional success,” Bal said.

house legal career was a scary move at the time, but absolutely the right thing for me,” Bal said. “I understand the needs of my clients better - and have more fun - when I work closely with them in the same organization.”

She is instrumental in Applied Materials' growth initiatives, where her passion and engagement allow Bal has successfully negotiated her to connect the dots to drive multi-million dollar technology progress across the company. Bal has sale, license and service agreements a broad scope of responsibilities at with worldwide customers, managed the company, serving as a member private financings and publicof the legal global leadership team to-public mergers, and managed and supporting the following international legal, corporate and business units: Display, WEB, Solar, procedural matters. She holds a J.D. new markets, and CTO. “The law from the University of Chicago Law department is very well embedded School and a BA from the University with our business units, and I of California, Berkeley. PDJ appreciate the partnering this allows,” Company: Applied Materials, Inc. Bal said.

Industry:

Manufacturing

Her career spans from law firms to CEO: Gary E. Dickerson start-ups to a Fortune 300 company. Employees: 14,500 “Leaving private practice for an inHeadquarters: Santa Clara, California

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

A

s a senior executive in Arrow Electronics’ $5 billion Americas components business, Allison Sabia is passionate about breaking down barriers for other women to succeed.

Her commitment to the success of others is clearly demonstrated in her actions. She’s known to mentor four or five women at a time, with the goal of guiding the next level of Arrow’s leadership forward. “I find it rewarding when I can personally help drive diversity,” Sabia said.

Her colleagues say she has an impeccable reputation for strategic thinking and leadership. They also say she has an inspiring commitment to Arrow, its partners, and the overall electronics and information technology industry.

This year marks her 20th anniversary with the company, where she oversees a team of 300 as vice president and general manager of e-commerce for global components. Over the years, she’s held various leadership roles in finance, operations, sales, product marketing, and customer service. As the role of a traditional technology distributor evolves, Sabia is working toward creating cohesion between the “brick-and-mortar” business and a new digital ecosystem. Her leadership is critical during this digital transformation as she knows the industry and also how to bring success to both customers and suppliers.

She lives by the words: “Be Authentic. Act the same way even when no one is looking.” Sabia says she goes to sleep with a clear mind every night because that’s how she lives her life.

ALLISON SABIA

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF E-COMMERCE FOR GLOBAL COMPONENTS ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.

Outside of the office she’s immersed in serving the local community, including a term last year on the board for the Chamber of Commerce for the Denver Tech Center.

She believes the most important quality a leader should have is selfconfidence. “People want to be able to follow you and that trust begins with yourself,” Sabia said. She holds a BBA and, MBA both in Finance Hofstra University. PDJ

Company: Arrow Electronics, Inc. Industry: Electronics and Information Technology CEO: Michael J. Long Employees: 18,500 Headquarters: Denver, Colorado

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Assurant, Inc. Industry: Insurance CEO: Alan B. Colberg Employees: 14,500 Headquarters: New York

REBEKAH BIONDO VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY AND M&A ASSURANT, INC.

ASSURANT EXECUTIVE MAKING A DIFFERENCE As a senior executive for a Fortune 500 company with about $30 billion in assets, Rebekah Biondo ensures alignment between Assurant’s business goals and its overall financial targets.

merger and acquisitions, Biondo recommends strategic enterprise initiatives involving Assurant’s capital deployment strategies for the company’s $5 billion portfolio as well as the organization’s M&A initiatives.

“There’s something extremely empowering about sitting across a table in a room full of men, and being the only woman participant when negotiating a multi-million dollar deal,” Biondo said.

A credentialed actuary by trade, she’s held roles of increasing responsibility in the actuarial and finance functions at Assurant. Her financial acumen and leadership skills have resulted in a variety of accolades throughout her 16-years with the company.

She’s passionate about mentoring young women just beginning their own careers, and guiding them along their journey. Biondo believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is authenticity.

“A leader who is genuine with her intentions and transparent in every day work decisions will be viewed as open and honest to others,” she said.

As part of her responsibilities as vice president of strategy and

Biondo’s colleagues say her work has been critical in Assurant’s business transformation. Her strong financial and leadership skills combined with an unrelenting commitment to her coworkers and community have amassed in great success. Biondo says she had realized early in her career the power numbers can bring to solving business problems. “Once

I realized I had a strong ability to communicate technical financial details to our business teams, I knew I had a powerful set of skills and I was hooked,” Biondo said.

Outside of work, she’s made a lasting contribution to the South Florida community where she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about autism. Her efforts to increase support for families living with autism have been recognized by the Autism Society of Miami-Dade County.

Biondo graduated with the highest distinction from The Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and a minor in mathematics. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Assurant (Brazil) Insurance and Special Services Alan Colberg 14,500 New York

ANA PAULA dE ALMEIDA SANTOS LEGAL DIRECTOR ASSURANT BRAZIL

BRINGING GENDER EQUITY TO THE TABLE As the director of the Legal Department of Assurant Solutions Brazil, Ana Paula de Almeida Santos is responsible for corporate legal matters, providing services to other areas of the company and working as a business partner of lines in operation in Brazil.

Santos’ colleagues say she clearly understands the importance of diversity and inclusion. As the sole female director on the board of Assurant Brazil, she works to bring gender equality to the table and is accountable for creating various women’s business programs at Assurant.

Santos says a woman leader should always be part of the solution, think like an owner and provide accountability. “It's important to take full responsibility for your actions, and work with your peers to find 30

the right solution that achieves your leader's vision,” she said.

with the goal of building a cohesive team by educating each member on the team’s activities, knowledge, and She says while women comprise a experience. As a result, Great Place to majority in the Brazilian insurance Work gave the department the highest market, men occupy most of the top positions and earn more than women. approval and satisfaction rating at Assurant Brazil.

This disparity is even greater when looking at the C-suite. “I am fortunate She says her team is critical to her to work in a company that values success and delegating responsibility women and diversity, promotes the is a key ingredient to having an empowerment of women at work and engaged and successful team. “The in our society, and is working towards secret of having a successful team is achieving a good balance between working with people who are more genders,” Santos said. talented than you,” she said.

Santos describes her biggest career leap as adding a new department under her umbrella of responsibility when she assumed management of the Ombudsman Department.

Her five member team grew to 12, creating the challenge of integrating everyone. Together they created an Ambassadors Development Program,

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Santos holds a degree in Social and Legal Sciences from Universidade Mackenzie, a Masters of Corporate Law from Ibmec, and has completed The Women’s Leadership Forum at Harvard Business School, and Digital Law program at Faculdade Getúlio Vargas. PDJ

TAMMY L. SCHULTZ

GLOBAL PRESIDENT, PRENEED ASSURANT, INC.

Company: Assurant, Inc. Industry: Insurance CEO: Alan B. Colberg Employees: 14,500 Headquarters: New York

BRINGING VALUE TO EVERY SITUATION As president of the Global Preneed business unit at Assurant Inc., a Fortune 500 company, Tammy Schultz has stewarded the business to nearly $1 billion in annual policy sales and administration of about 2 million insurance policies in the United States and Canada.

Schultz fosters strong relationships with industry professionals, customers and employees. Rising through the ranks since joining Assurant in 1995, Schultz’ career trajectory has taken her from advertising and communications to negotiating multi-million dollar deals. The area of the company she’s accountable for offers consumers a way to prefund the cost of a funeral, cremation, or burial. She’s successfully mastered the challenge of working in a historically male-dominated industry.

Schultz says the most important quality a woman leader should have is feeling confident in the value they bring to every situation. She adds that being a woman in a male-dominated industry is not something she spends a lot of time thinking about, since her focus is on what she brings to every situation and interaction regardless of who might be in the room. “Working hard to earn everyone’s respect is what has helped me to build the relationships I have, create the opportunities for the business, and continue to drive our business,” Schultz said.

Her colleagues say her ability to communicate, connect, and lead have been instrumental in restructuring and improving customer service operations, strengthening client relationships, and developing the strategic vision to grow

the business. To help others succeed, she fosters a collaborative and inclusive culture and helps employees in their career development paths as a coach for Assurant’s Center for Emerging Leaders.

Her enthusiasm for coaching extends beyond the company and onto the ice, where Schultz is a certified hockey coach serving as coordinator for South Dakota’s Rushmore Thunder Girls Hockey Team. She’s also a volunteer for several community initiatives, including Habitat for Humanity and United Way Day of Caring.

Schultz holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising from South Dakota State University. She also holds the Fellow, Life Management Institute designation. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

AT&T Telecommunications Randall L. Stephenson 280,000 + Dallas, Texas

JENNIFER S. BIRY

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AT&T SERVICES, INC.

VISIONARY LEADER WITH AN EYE TOWARD EXCELLENCE

J

ennifer Biry is a visionary leader with an eye toward excellence across several disciplines. She thrives on collaborating with peers and internal partners to solve problems, drive operational improvement and expand margins.

As senior vice president of finance at AT&T Services, Inc., Biry is responsible for all the financial operations of AT&T’s corporate strategy function, technology development, network deployment and operations–or a total of more than $50 billion in operating expense and capital. AT&T’s 4G LTE network covers 365 million people in North America, and its global backbone network carries more than 117 petabytes of data on an average business day. In this role, she also enables AT&T’s industry leadership in software-defined networking and manages AT&T’s capital program.

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Early in her career, Biry strategically chose SBC (now AT&T) because of the company’s solid reputation for allowing leaders to grow. Her biggest career leap came in 2006 when she was tapped to lead AT&T’s merger with BellSouth and Cingular. She was one of the youngest members of the merger team. “The experience gave me a broad perspective of the company, and I gained visibility with company leadership that has been invaluable in my career. I grew as a leader and it was pivotal in my career, but I first had to take the risk to get there,” Biry said.

As she advanced in the corporate world, Biry noticed there were not as many women in the room. Today, she has a passion for mentoring the next generation, encouraging women to bring five more women with them as they move up. She is on the board of the Dallas Women’s Foundation and

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

the AT&T University Advisory Board, teaches leadership through AT&T’s Leading with Distinction program, is a member of AT&T Women of Finance, and mentors high school students through AT&T Aspire.

She says the most important qualities a woman leader should have are authenticity, humility, curiosity, and confidence. “Trust your instincts even when you are the only woman in the room, even when you are the youngest in the room, and even when everyone disagrees,” Biry said.

She is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University, where she serves on the Executive Advisory Council and is the recipient of the 2016 TLU Distinguished Alumni Award.. PDJ

ANNE CHOW

PRESIDENT INTEGRATOR SOLUTIONS AT&T

Company: AT&T Industry: Technology/ Telecommunications CEO: Randall Stephenson Employees: 280,000+ Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

INSPIRATIONAL LEADER PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE A

s one of the highest ranking women leaders at AT&T, Anne Chow’s colleagues say that her leadership is inspirational. A humble yet powerful leader, she’s passionate about technology, developing people, and being a trusted adviser for her customers and partners.

Chow is president of Integrator Solutions at AT&T. With more than two decades of experience in the telecommunications industry, she’s held leadership positions in engineering, sales and operations, marketing, customer care, international operations, product management, and strategic planning.

She says the most important quality a woman leader should have is embracing and harnessing

the power of people. “Women are natural connectors and have unique skills in understanding and growing relationships. We understand the power of communications and its multiple dimensions. Our social nature enables us to harness empathy, humility, and generosity of spirit,” she said.

Passionate about mentoring others and developing people, she has served on AT&T’s “T-University" governing board since its inception. In addition to leading several company-wide groups, Chow shares her experiences, coaching, and leadership through a weekly internal blog that has thousands of followers.

Among her numerous professional roles, Chow’s on the advisory board

for the National Sales Network, on the Technology Advisory Committee for the Boys and Girls Club of America, serves as the vice chair of Asian American Justice Center’s Board of Directors, is a member of the National Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of the USA, and was recently named to Franklin Covey’s Board of Directors.

Chow holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, as well as her MBA with Distinction from The Johnson School at Cornell. She is the recipient of numerous accolades for her widespread contributions to business and the community. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

AT&T Technology, Telecommunications Randall L. Stephenson 280,000+ Dallas,Texas

KAY KAPOOR

PRESIDENT GLOBAL PUBLIC SECTOR SOLUTIONS AT&T

DELIVERING TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL GOVERNMENT MARKETS W ith 25 years of expertise in global government markets, Kay Kapoor leads a team of more than 4,000 professionals bringing strategic technology solutions to public sector enterprises globally.

As president of AT&T’s nearly $5 billion Global Public Sector Solutions business, Kapoor is accountable for the delivery of innovative technology solutions to the U.S. federal government including defense, civilian, public safety, and national security customers, and global public sector enterprises. Her career path includes serving as CEO of Accenture Federal Services (AFS) and as vice president and COO at Lockheed Martin.

She says her biggest career leap was arriving in America from her native India as an 18-year-old college student. “When there is a fork in 34

the road, take it,” she said. Kapoor earned her undergraduate degree in information systems from the University of Maryland, an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and has completed executive programs at MIT and Harvard University. She’s passionate about innovation, STEM, mentoring, and women in the workplace.

In offering advice to women rising in the ranks, she says the smartest leaders know when and how to get help. “No one has all the answers.

Surround yourself with smart people and seek the advice of mentors and colleagues whenever you can,” she said. She describes the most important quality of a woman leader as being empathy. “Women tend to have this quality naturally. We should use it because it helps us connect with customers and employees at a deeper level,” she said.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Kapoor has earned numerous accolades, including the 2016 Women in Technology Award; FedScoop’s Top 50 Women in Tech; 2015 Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year, Business Products; the 2014 Janice K. Mendenhall Spirit of Leadership Award from the American Council for Technology/Industry Advisory Council; the Fed100 Award; and the Asian American Engineer of the Year Award. Earlier this year, Washington Executive named her to its Top 30 Executives to Watch list.

Kapoor is active on the boards of several non-profit institutions.

She is on the Dean’s Council and the Board of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where she has an active advisory role. She is also a member of the Dean’s Council at Johns Hopkins University. PDJ

Equally innovative

Start with a diverse and inclusive culture, welcome everyone’s ideas, and innovation shines through.

Congratulations to the Women Worth Watching honorees.

At AT&T, Every Voice Matters.

www.att.com/diversity Š 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.

NORBERTA N. NOGUERA VICE PRESIDENT, SECURITY & ADVANCED APPLICATIONS AT&T

EXECUTIVE’S LOVE OF MATH BEGAN IN THE MESA PROGRAM A

s Vice President of Security & Advanced Applications with AT&T, Norberta Noguera leads a team of 1400+ employees around the world. She has responsibility for leading and managing the global support and implementation of Enterprise Services, including Security Operations, Global Mobility Applications & Security, Digital Media Solutions, Cloud Services (NetBond®), Synaptic Storage as a Service, Hosting Services, Ultravailable Network®, Local Network Services, Wi-Fi, and Teleconference services.

“Being a woman in my profession has been exciting as the telecommunications industry has led the way in transforming the way we connect with the world,” Noguera said.

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Company: AT&T Industry: Telecommunications CEO: Randall Stephenson Employees: 280,000+ Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

Noguera says her current position is her biggest career leap to date because it required her to relocate from Los Angeles to Dallas. “Transition can be stressful, but I quickly adapted and overcame obstacles,” Noguera said.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering Operations Research, UC Berkeley, and earned her MBA through UCLA Anderson’s Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program.

As a child, growing up in a working class neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, Noguera had only known a few people who had gone to college. Her window to the world opened when her parents enrolled her in the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program. She spent weekends visiting colleges, meeting engineers and scientists, and working with hands-on math and science projects. “It taught me that it was ok to be an AfricanAmerican woman who was brainy in math,” Noguera said. She went on to become a Riordan Fellow in 1995 and subsequently a mentor with the program.

Noguera began her career at Pacific Bell as an outside plant engineer. She’s worked her way up holding several managerial positions specializing in leading large teams toward successfully achieving strategic and financial objectives.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Noguera lives by the principle of doing what is right at all times.

She’s also active in the community, serving as vice chairman of the board of directors for the Wescom Credit Union and as finance secretary for the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church of Los Angeles. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP Law Firm James Veltrop 120 New York

GAIL GOTTEHRER

ATTORNEY, PARTNER AXINN, VELTROP & HARKRIDER LLP

ATTORNEY AT FOREFRONT OF LAW AND TECHNOLOGY Attorney Gail Gottehrer is at the forefront of law and technology, helping her clients innovate and address the risks associated with new technology.

A partner with Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider, LLP, she specializes in technology-related litigation, privacyrelated counseling and litigation, and workplace-related class actions.

A recognized thought leader, Gottehrer believes the most important quality women leaders should have is self-confidence. “Take charge of your career from the outset, and don’t hesitate to be assertive,” she advises.

Gottehrer’s colleagues say she works tirelessly to support areas

driven by her passions. Among them are modernizing legal education and preparing law students for today’s technology-driven law practice; encouraging girls and women to become interested in STEM careers; and helping the legal profession become an environment where women can realize their personal and professional objectives and succeed in legal careers without sacrificing their personal goals.

Gottehrer mentors women associates through the firm’s women’s initiative, called AWARE. Her colleagues say she’s made AWARE a vehicle to encourage women associates to be confident, define and expand their professional and

personal goals, and take the steps necessary to advance toward those goals. She lives by the saying be grateful for today and remember tomorrow is not promised.

Gottehrer is the vice president of the Board of Directors of the Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Appleseed. She’s also director of the Connecticut Chapter of Women in eDiscovery, a Fellow at the Center for Legal Innovation at Vermont Law School, and teaches a law class at Columbia University.

She holds a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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LETICIA M. DIAZ

DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF LAW BARRY UNIVERSITY

Company: Barry University Industry: Higher Education CEO: Sister Linda Bevilacqua OP, PHD Headquarters: Orlando, Florida

ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY I N L E G A L E D U C AT I O N

Leticia M. Diaz, Ph.D., J.D., was appointed Dean of the Barry University School of Law in 2007, becoming the first female Cuban-American dean of an ABAaccredited law school. During her tenure, Diaz has been a relentless advocate for diversity, social justice, professionalism, and service in the legal profession.

Diaz believes the most important qualities a woman leader should have are perseverance and the ability to mentor. “It’s rewarding when I’m able to mentor other women who then become successful,” she said.

Her professional endeavors didn’t originate in the legal sector. She first earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Rutgers University and worked as a postdoctoral research chemist testing the synthesis of anti-HIV 38

compounds. She ultimately realized law was her true calling and returned to Rutgers to pursue a law degree.

movement for increasing diversity in legal education,” Diaz said.

Diaz has been named to the Diaz has been with Barry Law Lawyers Color Power List twice since 1999, working her way up to and recently to the National Jurists’ full professor, associate dean, and Top 20 Leaders in Diversity. She has then dean. Under her leadership, served on the advisory committee the student body has grown 26 for the ABA Commission on percent and minority enrollment Immigration, Hispanic Legal Rights has increased by 57 percent. Her and Responsibilities; was appointed staunch commitment to diversity to the ABA Commission on has propelled both herself and Barry Immigration; and has penned Law into the national spotlight. Barry an article on the DREAM Act Law was recently recognized for its that was entered into the diversity in U.S. News and World Congressional Record.

Report, ranking 8th among U.S. law She holds a J.D., Rutgers School of schools for diversity. The law school Law; a Ph.D. and Masters in Organic also received an A+ ranking from Chemistry, Rutgers University; and preLaw Magazine for both faculty and a Bachelor of Science, Bloomfield student body diversity. “Becoming College; and a Nursing Diploma, Dean has been very rewarding Union County College. PDJ and has allowed me to assist in the

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

DOROTHY “DEE DEE” HELFENSTEIN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Booz Allen Hamilton Consulting Horacio Rozanski 23,000 McLean, Virginia

JUGGLING WITH PURPOSE: D

HOW TO FIND SUCCESS IN FAMILY, WORK AND COMMUNITY

orothy Helfenstein, a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, has more than 20 years of experience leading businesses across both government and commercial industries including healthcare, finance, and citizen services. Since joining Booz Allen in 1998, she has been involved in numerous transformation engagements across the federal government, including the Internal Revenue Service, and the Departments of Navy and Labor, among many others.

She is currently a leader in Booz Allen’s Defense business.

Colleagues describe Helfenstein as an accomplished business leader who thrives on energizing organizations and building businesses by enhancing innovation and developing technology solutions for a broad base of clients. She has the unique ability to be a “spark” of change, bringing a vibrant mix of consulting and advanced technology expertise to motivate teams and leaders, solving clients’ toughest problems.

“My success and the path to the many opportunities open to women today was paved by the pioneers who went before us,” Helfenstein said. “My goal has always been to honor and value these trailblazers by doing my part to make the journey for our up and coming women leaders a little easier and even brighter.”

- a series of glass, plastic and rubber balls. Glass balls, Helfenstein says, will shatter if they’re dropped; plastic ones can be dropped and may dent, but will be fine; and rubber balls will just keep bouncing.

Over the years, Helfenstein has become a skilled juggler to successfully manage the constantly evolving priorities of family, work and community. She says everyone has different priorities they juggle every day, with varying levels of importance

her work she has received the Vice President’s Hammer Award for Re-inventing Government, two IRS Commissioner’s Awards, and is a three time recipient of the Booz Allen Excellence Award, Booz Allen’s highest honor. PDJ

“Each day, determine what the ‘glass’ priorities are in your life; whether it be a work deadline, a Outside of work, Helfenstein child’s school event, or a sick parent,” is a mother of two and actively she said. ”Don’t get distracted by the engaged in her community. She is ‘rubber balls’ you are juggling – focus on the Board of Directors for the on your top priorities, the glass,” Management Consulting Institute and Helfenstein said. “That advice has on the Corporate Advisory Council helped keep me balanced, centered, for Capital Partners for Education. and true to the me I want to be and She holds a bachelor in science in want others to see and experience.” psychology from Virginia Polytechnic This strategy has clearly worked Institute and State University. for Helfenstein. In recognition for

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AMY MAGNOTTA

SENIOR INVESTMENT MANAGER BRINKER CAPITAL

Company: Brinker Capital Industry: Financial Services CEO: Noreen D. Beaman Employees: 150 Headquarters: Berwyn, Pennsylvania

PERSISTENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

KEYS TO SUCCESS A

my Magnotta has portfolio management responsibilities for Brinker Capital’s multi-billion dollar asset allocation investment program, Destinations. As a co-manager, she’s at the forefront of both asset allocation and investment manager decisions for the entire program.

When challenges arise, Magnotta’s colleagues said she always finds practical ways to do the right thing. She’s confident in executing widespread portfolio management responsibilities and has successfully yielded results. Since she joined the management team, the portfolio expanded its mandate to include alternative asset classes, assets under 40

management grew from $1 billion to more than $10 billion, and the brand was extended to include additional suites of portfolios, including ETF-based strategies.

this responsibility very seriously,” she said.

She says as a woman leader the most important qualities one should have are persistence and accountability. “You must always advocate for yourself; be confident,” she said. “You only get out what you put in.”

From a team perspective, her colleagues say she’s always willing to listen to others and encourages creative ideas from the broader investment group, sales team, and advisors. She’s also committed to boosting the ranks of Brinker Capital’s female leaders and mentors the company’s interns and female professionals.

Magnotta says her biggest career leap to date is her current position.

“Thousands of individual clients trust that we will help them reach their long-term financial goals, and I take

Magnotta graduated from Lehigh University with a BS in Finance and is a CFA charter holder. She’s also a member of the CFA institute and the CFA Society of Philadelphia. PDJ

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

California Community Foundation Philanthropy Antonia Hernandez 60 Los Angeles, California

NIKE IRVIN

VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

and consulting with numerous nonprofit organizations, foundations, and charitable arms of for-profit companies. As her work impacts lives and transforms communities, Irvin is steadfast about improving the productivity, health and well-being of the Los Angeles region. She lives by the words: “Be stronger today than yesterday.”

Before joining CCF, Irvin served as president of The Riordan Foundation for seven years and as a consultant to nonprofits and foundations. She says her biggest career leap was receiving an invitation to oversee a foundation before she actually knew much about leading a philanthropic institution. As a results focused leader, she learned to be a quick study.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES As a senior executive with the California Community Foundation (CCF), Nike Irvin is making a difference through advocacy, outreach and community investments.

Irvin is responsible for $25 million in annual grants, funding programs in Los Angeles in the arts, education, health care, transition-aged youth, and organizational sustainability. As a leading advocate, the foundation stewards $1.5 billion in assets and manages 1,600+ charitable foundations, funds and legacies.

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Passionate about serving the public through systemic change, Irvin also manages four specialized initiatives: Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (BLOOM), the El Monte Community Building Initiative, Preparing Achievers for Tomorrow, and the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative.

Her colleagues describe her as an expert in capacity building, branding, and program development and implementation. She has two decades of experience in leadership

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Irvin also has extensive marketing background in the private sector for Nestle USA and Pepsi Cola Company.

She serves on several boards and is a trustee for The Riordan Foundation, Southern California Grantmakers; and previously for Crystal Stairs, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, and The UCLA Alumni Association.

Irvin holds a BA in Economics & Political Science from Yale University and was named among the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” by the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where she also earned an MBA. She is a Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute, a Marshall Memorial Fellow, and a Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly. PDJ

TARA L. SMITH

DEPUTY CORPORATE SECRETARY AND CORPORATE COUNSEL CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY

Company: Campbell Soup Company Industry: Consumer Packaged Goods CEO: Denise M. Morrison Employees: 18,600 Headquarters: Camden, New Jersey

LAWYER EMPOWERING WOMEN TO HIGHER LEVELS As corporate counsel for Campbell Soup Company, Tara L. Smith provides legal guidance to the company’s senior executives and board of directors.

the company reach their full potential.

She says the most important quality a woman leader should have is patience.

“Have patience not just with others, but also with yourself,” she explains.

She routinely works on issues relating to corporate governance, securities law, executive compensation, compliance, and enterprise risk. Smith’s colleagues say her talents stretch beyond the legal sector. They describe her as an advocate for empowering women to reach their highest potential and say she has a passion for youth education.

Her leadership in the community fully demonstrates her commitment to those ideals.

She lives by the Maya Angelou quote: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” In advice to women looking to rise in the ranks, she says “Forgive your own shortcomings, and don’t expect to be perfect at everything all the time.”

At the office, Smith serves as the global co-chair/business advisor for the Women of Campbell (WoC) Business Resource Affinity Network, with a mission of enabling women at

Smith sits on the board of trustees of the Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, the advisory committee for the Women of the Dream mentoring program, and is active with the Philadelphia chapter of the Duke Black Alumni Association.

She was also a 2016 participant in the United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey’s Young Leaders program.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Board of Directors of the AIDS Law Project, and the planning committee for Toll Brothers’ annual fundraising gala for the American Cancer Society.

Smith launched her career as a business and finance associate in the Philadelphia office of Morgan Lewis and went on as assistant vice president in the legal department at Toll Brothers, Inc., a publicly-traded luxury home builder in Pennsylvania.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Cooper Standard Congratulates

VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN

OUR 2016 WOMAN WORTH WATCHING Cooper Standard is proud of Christine’s many accomplishments, especially her community leadership in support of: Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Cadillac Urban Garden Careers for Veterans Detroit Cristo Rey High School Lace Up Detroit (Founding Member) STEM Education Working Homes / Working Families

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Company:

Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Canadian Mental Health Association (York Region and South Simcoe) Health Services Rebecca Shields 168 Ontario, Canada

REBECCA SHIELDS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

R

CANADIAN CEO CHAMPIONS DIVERSITY

ebecca Shields is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) York Region and South Simcoe Branch. She is a mental health advocate, philanthropist, and committed community builder who, after many years, has discovered that great planning inspires hopes and dreams.

Shields’ colleagues say she’s a visionary leader who creates transformational impact through bold and innovative solutions. Her leadership over the past four years has positioned the agency as a leader in the sector through a transformational impact model. Its revenue has doubled since 2012. With a staff of 168, last year the agency served 5,518 individuals, up from 2,894 the previous year. It also operated 2,500 groups and made over 100,000 visits to support recovery initiatives.

At CMHA, she champions diversity and inclusion as a key organizational strategy to provide the best service and work experience in one of

Canada’s most diverse communities.

Shields believes the most important qualities a woman leader should bring to the table is the ability to inspire people, allowing them to bring their full value to their organizations.

She uses cultural competency as a cornerstone for community development, innovation and to build and sustain high performing and inclusive teams. “My role is to energize and engage staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners to deliver high quality care,” Shields said.

Rebecca has over 18 years of senior leadership experience in a variety of social organizations, including the Executive Director of CMHA Vancouver, Burnaby Branch and Deafblind Services Society of BC, and Director of Development for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

She was recognized as a Newsmaker of the Year and is the recipient of various awards for leadership in community development, inclusion for persons She reflects that she knew she had with disabilities, LGBTQ rights, and the right career fit when it made more for Aboriginal youth at risk. She’s sense to refer to herself as the chief also been appointed to the Region of enthusiasm officer. “My passion for York Human Services Planning Table, fighting stigma and promoting Community Partnership Council, mental health, gratitude for my team, and the Local Immigrant Partnership and support for our clients Council. She is also Co-Chairing a and families just made the title fit,” Service Coordination Council with she said. “My circle enables creative local government to identify optimal and radical thinking that challenges ways of streamlining access to and the status quo, driving enhanced provision of health care in the region. performance and more mindful Shields holds a Bachelor of Science practices,” she explained. in chemistry from the University of British Columbia. PDJ Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Capital One Financial Corporation Industry: Financial Services CEO: Richard D. Fairbank Employees: 45,000+ Headquarters: McLean, Virginia

EMILIA LOPEZ

MANAGING VICE PRESIDENT U.S. CARD UPMARKET CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

SHARING THE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY Emilia Lopez is a managing vice president with Capital One Financial who successfully drives her teams to be innovative and agile, ever improving, and striving to bring the best products and service to consumers.

“I am constantly struck and humbled by how much of an impact I can have through leading by example, and taking on the opportunity to support and mentor other women; so I embrace and tackle with gusto every chance I get,” she said.

She leads strategy for Capital One’s credit card products with a focus on the Venture and Quicksilver card portfolios. Her colleagues say she engages regularly with associates, including Capital One’s Hispanic Network and Women's Network, sharing her leadership journey. She’s known for encouraging employees to celebrate their shared culture, support each other, and encourage continuous learning to meet business objectives.

Lopez believes the most important quality any leader should have is the ability to develop relationships that bring out the best in others while driving toward the most ideal outcome. “If you aim to be a better version of yourself, what for others signifies failure becomes feedback, and a tool that teaches you and strengthens you until you reach your full potential,” she said.

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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Prior to her promotion last year to managing vice president, Lopez had led the U.S. card Hispanic and underserved segments. She was also in charge of the agenda to help people use credit wisely, including CreditWise, Capital One’s digital financial wellness tool that is now available to all consumers to help them understand and monitor their credit score. Lopez’s many accomplishments include making CreditWise available in Spanish.

She was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and lives by the words “stay true to yourself and always seek to be a better version of yourself.”

Lopez holds a BA at C.E.S.A., Colombia and an MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. PDJ

MELISSA CROLL

VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES

CARMEUSE LIME & STONE

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Carmeuse Lime & Stone Mining & Minerals Yves Willems 2,000 Louvain la Neuve, Belgium

THRIVING ON CHALLENGES IN HUMAN RESOURCES

G

uided by impeccable values and strong principles, Melissa Croll is passionate about success, quality, efficiency, and people.

As vice president of human resources for Carmeuse Lime & Stone, she’s instrumental on an executive team that steers the corporate and commercial direction of the company. She’s also in constant collaboration and communication with European parent company, the Carmeuse Group. The company has an international presence spanning Europe, Asia, and North America.

Croll is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

with over two decades of experience in manufacturing settings, both union and non-union, her colleagues say she’s humble and an asset to the company. “When you have a great team that surrounds you, your best solutions are driven from your team.

Every day is another opportunity to learn something new,” Croll said.

Her areas of expertise include contract negotiations and overseeing multiple site locations across the Eastern portion of the United States.

As part of her role, she focuses on eliminating process inefficiencies to help move the company closer to its With seven senior human resources 2020 goals and objectives, including sustaining its leadership position in team members reporting directly the limestone mining industry. to her and 21 human relations representatives underneath, she’s Her career started in Texas in imperative in implementing morale human resources for a telecom and team building cultures and company in the early 1990’s. “I philosophies at Carmeuse. thrived on the diversity and different challenges that each day provided.

As a human resources executive

There is such a wide variety of activities to get involved with being in the HR field and you meet so many different types of people,” Croll said.

She had stepped out of the workforce in the late 1990’s to focus on raising a family and subsequently joined Carmeuse Lime & Stone in various HR positions working her way up to a vice president this past February.

“My role isn't to know everything, my role is to facilitate getting to the right solutions for our employees,” she said. “When you have a great team that surrounds you, your best solutions are driven from your team and you don’t need to know everything,” she said.

Croll holds a BS in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. PDJ

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BRANDE STELLINGS

VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE BOARD SERVICES CATALYST

ACCELERATING PROGRESS FOR WOMEN THROUGH WORKPLACE INCLUSION Brande Stellings is an expert on women’s leadership with a passion for advancing gender diversity in corporate boardrooms around the world.

Her colleagues say she’s invigorated the organization by contributing to Catalyst’s overall strategy, through lending a reasoned and experienced perspective.

As vice president of Catalyst’s Corporate Board Services, Stellings regularly consults with corporate boards and is a trusted resource to board chairs and CEOs wanting to diversify their talent pool.

Stellings is a former vice president of litigation for NBC Universal, and was co-leader of the award-winning New York/New Jersey chapter of the GE Women's Network and a member of NBC Universal's Affinity Council.

She says her biggest career leap was making the move from practicing law to joining Catalyst. “It felt like a big risk, but fulfilled a long-held goal to work full-time on women’s advancement,” she said.

She joined Catalyst in 2005 in its global strategic consulting practice, where she focused on advising Fortune 500 companies on business-driven diversity and inclusion strategies with a focus on advancing women. Since then, she has also successfully led the expansion of Catalyst’s Women on BoardTM program from Canada to the United States.

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Today, she’s a respected expert on women’s leadership and diversity. She speaks to corporate audiences and is frequently quoted in the news media, including Fortune, PBS NewsHour,

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Catalyst Industry: Nonprofit CEO: Deborah Gillis Employees: 100 Headquarters: New York City, New York

The New York Times, and The American Lawyer. A central theme is diversity leads to better decision making.

Stellings serves on the advisory board of DirectWomen (Accelerating Board Opportunities for Women) and the board of directors of Legal Momentum (the Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund), as well as the Akanksha Fund Inc., which supports education in India.

She says the most important quality a woman leader should have is resilience. She received her J.D. cum laude from the Harvard Law School and graduated magna cum laude from Yale College.

Words she lives by: “Who knows when we'll be back-order what you want, buy that souvenir, take the picture, make the most of the moment.” PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Cathedral Capital, Inc. Financial Consulting Brooke E. Lively 5 Fort Worth, Texas

BROOKE LIVELY

PRESIDENT AND CFO

CATHEDRAL CAPITAL, INC.

CREATING PROFITABLE BUSINESSES As president and CFO of Cathedral Capital, Brooke Lively leads a team of profitability strategists advising fast-growing companies on strategic financial decisions to grow their businesses.

With a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Lively is an advocate for small business owners. Her mission is to eradicate their struggles of being overworked and underpaid with roller coaster revenues.

She is passionate about making support available to as many small business owners as possible, showing them they don’t have to be a big company to afford a CFO. “There are simple and doable strategies that can make the entrepreneurial journey

easier, and more rewarding and enjoyable,” Lively said. “It doesn’t have to be so hard, and they don’t have to do it alone.”

business owners struggle and how easily a fractional CFO can help them grow, I would have taken the leap and opened my company sooner.”

Lively empowers her clients with Six Key Elements of Financial Insight for creating a profitable and sustainable business. When they are in alignment, she says companies skyrocket their growth and maximize their profitability. Cathedral Capital serves as a financial consultant, assuming all responsibilities of a chief financial officer for closely held companies with revenues up to $10 million.

Lively believes the most important quality a women leader should have is belief in her vision and in herself.

She has been awarded the globally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst designation, the highest level of credentials in the global investment management industry. She holds an MBA in investments and corporate finance from Texas Christian University, and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Randolph Macon Woman’s College.

When asked if she’d do anything differently in her career, knowing what she knows now, Lively said, “Had I realized how much small

Words she lives by: “Everything you want is there for you, you just have to overcome the fear to get it.” PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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JENNIFER ASHLEY

GLOBAL DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES CBRE

Company: CBRE Industry: Commercial Real Estate Services CEO: Bob Sulentic Employees: 70,000+ Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

KEY PLAYER IN SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF COMPANY’S D&I PROGRAMS As CBRE global director of human resources, Jennifer Ashley oversees human resources operations for 70,000 employees around the world.

no matter how far down a path you’ve traveled,” she said. “I learned I respond well to challenges and can do anything I set my mind to.”

At the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, she’s accountable for employee relations, staffing and recruitment, training and professional development, diversity, and compensation and benefits. The company does business in more than 60 countries.

She has served as senior vice president of human resources, leading CBRE’s human resources operations in the Americas.

Previously, she also directed marketing strategy and operations in the United States, Latin America, and Canada, leading marketing and communications professionals across all lines of business in the CBRE services platform.

As a woman executive, Ashley says the most important quality a woman leader should have is authenticity.

“You have to be comfortable with yourself and genuine with your interactions with others,” she said.

Ashley says her biggest career leap was making the decision to move from academia to the corporate sector. “It’s ok to change your mind, 50

Ashley’s colleagues describe her as a highly capable leader with a deep understanding of the company and people, who excels at teamwork.

Last year, she spearheaded a global effort for integrating 16,000 new employees that joined CBRE through the acquisition of the Global Work

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Place Solutions business of Johnson Controls. Colleagues say she worked tirelessly ensuring each employee was taken care of and had a full understanding of what the acquisition meant to them and the company.

Ashley has been instrumental in supporting the growth of CBRE’s diversity and inclusion programs to help ensure the company has diverse talent across the organization.

CBRE has seen tremendous growth in several groups including CBRE Military, the Hispanic Network Group, and the Women’s Network, as well as adding new groups such as the Rising Professionals Organization.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in psychology from Emory University, a Master of Science in psychology from Hunter College, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Charter School Business Management Accounting and Financial Services Raj Thakkar 52 New York City, New York

HEATHER R. BLUMBERG DIRECTOR

CHARTER SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE As director of Charter School Business Management (CSBM), Heather Blumberg and her team manage $150 million of public funds for education clients they serve in the New York City area.

Sharing CSBM’s belief in the potential of the charter school movement to remedy the country’s educational inequities, Blumberg joined the company in 2009 as a financial consultant, and quickly rose through the ranks to become director in 2012. In addition to leading her team of finance managers, she serves as a financial thought partner for her clients and provides professional development focusing on fiscal management for education leaders, their governing boards, and finance and operations teams.

Ensuring fiscal viability and accurate financial audits is paramount for the highly scrutinized charter school sector. Recognizing that many charter school closures are the result of financial mismanagement, Blumberg is driven to safeguard the staff and students of these schools, most of which are located in impoverished neighborhoods within Harlem, the South Bronx, and various parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Blumberg’s colleagues say her unwavering commitment to excellence has had an enormous impact on the company and its clients. They say she selflessly devotes as much time as necessary to the professional development of her staff, empowering them to succeed in their

careers. Blumberg believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is humble confidence.

“I think it’s important to be both confident and approachable,” she said.

In both her career and her personal life, Blumberg is committed to using her expertise to benefit disadvantaged communities. Prior to joining CSBM, Blumberg served as a director of operations and business development coordinator for Oasis Children’s Services. She holds a BA in government from the University of Virginia and an MPA from NYU, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Words she lives by: “Stand for what you believe in; work hard, play hard.” PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Charles Cheever, William Gelnaw (Managing Partners)Employees: 401 Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

becomes a model within the legal sector. Within the life sciences sector, she is frequently sought out as a "knowledge leader" for expert advice on complex or timely issues.

BRENDA HERSCHBACH JARRELL

PARTNER CO-CHAIR OF IP AND LIFE SCIENCES GROUP CHOATE, HALL & STEWART, LLP

PROTECTING SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS Dr. Brenda Jarrell is one of the most sought after intellectual property attorneys in the world.

She’s a trailblazer for pioneering innovative strategies to protect and commercialize groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

As co-chair of Choate, Hall & Stewart’s Intellectual Properties and Life Sciences Groups, Jarrell works to protect cutting-edge technologies for scientific breakthroughs. Companies around the world turn to her because of her scientific expertise and the specialized legal skill set she brings to protect their complex discoveries.

Her scientific training spans many disciplines, including theoretical quantum physics, synthetic organic chemistry, and molecular biology.

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Like her clients, Jarrell is passionate about the work she does and driven by the opportunity to save people's lives. She’s respected by experts developing innovations in areas such as small molecule therapeutics, biologics, vaccines, diagnostic technologies, and medicines. If a potentially life-saving innovation can't be protected, it will likely never be commercialized. By creating value in IP - Jarrell is also bringing investors to the table - playing a critical role in bringing new technologies to the people who need them.

Jarrell's patents for clients are often the first, or among the first, to be filed in particular life science areas, so many of the strategies she develops are based on "first principles" of both science and law. Her work often

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

In Jarrell’s view, the most important quality a leader should have is a sense of humor. “Leadership is about maintaining poise, enthusiasm, and creativity in the face of unexpected challenges,” she said. “An ability to maintain a sense of humor under such circumstances helps stabilize those around you, projects confidence, and diffuses stress so the team can bring their best efforts to the task at hand.”

Jarrell says her biggest career leap was leaving academic science to become a lawyer and then joining a firm to practice patent law when she had never even seen a patent. “If something sounds fun, you should try it,” she said. “If you like it, you will invest yourself, which is the best way to achieve excellence.”

Among her numerous accolades, most recently she was named the 2016 Boston Lawyer of the Year for Biotechnology Law by Best Lawyers, the second time she received this designation in the past five years.

Jarrell holds a BA and an M.A. in chemistry from Harvard University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California in biochemistry and molecular biology, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Words she lives by: “Bring your highest and best self. Every day.

To every task. As a practitioner, as a citizen of your community, as a human being. Always.” PDJ

DEFENDING AGAINST HIGH-STAKES GOVERNMENT ALLEGATIONS Melissa Tearney is a top white collar and criminal defense attorney with 25 years of expertise defending corporate executives and companies against high-stakes government allegations.

A partner with Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP, Tearney has extensive trial and appellate expertise. She routinely represents clients before grand juries and investigative bodies, with much of her focus defending allegations of violations of complex federal statutes.

Many of Tearney's biggest wins are confidential ones because she successfully argued the matter and the Justice Department did not pursue the case. In cases where government actions are brought, success is often measured in Tearney's ability to limit settlements to reasonable amounts and prevent prosecution of individual executives.

Company: Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Charles Cheever,

William Gelnaw

(Managing Partners) Employees: 401 Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

She represents clients in complex litigation across a wide spectrum of high-stakes areas, including healthcare fraud and abuse, financial fraud, real estate fraud, environmental violations, foreign corrupt practices, customs violations, environmental violations, antitrust violations, and those involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

MELISSA BAYER TEARNEY

Growing up as a public defender’s daughter, Tearney said she learned as a child that everyone deserves a defense, no matter what the allegation. She says being a woman in her profession has been a rewarding experience. “I have had tremendous mentors along the way who have led by example, and I continue to benefit

Tearney believes the most essential qualities a woman leader should have are confidence and a willingness to listen to others. “These are important traits for all of us, regardless of what profession we practice,” she said.

“Sometimes having the greatest confidence means listening to someone else’s advice.”

PARTNER GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT GROUP CHOATE, HALL & STEWART, LLP from their guidance,” she said. Today, she mentors other young women lawyers. Her career advice includes always keeping work in perspective.

She says it’s better to spend less time worrying and more time strategizing.

She’s a member of the firms' Executive Committee and has affiliations with various outside professional groups. She is president of Greater Boston Legal Services, and serves on its board of directors and executive committee. She’s also a board director with Hebrew Senior Life and Camp Bauercrest, and is a trustee of Thayer Academy.

Tearney received her J.D., from Harvard Law School and her BA from Harvard College. Words she lives by: "It is what it is. A situation is not always completely in our control.” PDJ

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Company: Cisco Industry: Technology CEO: Chuck Robbins Employees: 73,000 Headquarters: San Jose, California

FRANCINE KATSOUDAS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER CISCO

DRIVING TRANSFORMATIONAL

CHANGE AT CISCO Francine Katsoudas is the driving force in transforming human resources and creating an innovative experience for 73,000 employees at worldwide technology leader Cisco.

Katsoudas’ colleagues describe her as an agent of change in driving large scale growth, talent acquisition, leadership development, and succession planning. They say she’s taken the company on a journey of incredible change, moving traditional human resources into an innovative, strategic partnership with its employees.

As Cisco’s senior vice president and chief people officer, she drives a more inclusive culture. Katsoudas says she strives to scale inclusion and collaboration in everything the company does. “Part of being a leader is empowering your teams, 54

eliminating bias, and ensuring that everyone feels welcome, valued, respected, and heard,” Katsoudas said. “My role is to create the leaders and environment that recognizes the power of individuals, diversity, and teams.”

During her 20 years with Cisco, Katsoudas is known for taking risks for Cisco to be competitive and attractive to current and future employees. She spearheaded one of the company’s biggest internal transformations, eliminating the traditional performance management system and moving to a more informal approach focused on employee development and creating opportunities.

Katsoudas says all leaders require followers. “To me, the qualities that differentiate leaders are self-

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

awareness, greater purpose and vision, and building amazing teams,” she said. “I greatly respect leaders who put their teams first.”

As a member of Cisco’s Executive Leadership Team, she partners with the company’s top executives on business and HR related projects.

Within the company she’s known as a strong believer of listening, and the driving force behind an environment where employees are heard by executives, managers and their teams.

Katsoudas serves on the San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum Board.

She holds a BA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Words she lives by gratitude, learning, sisterhood and empathy. PDJ

Recognizing Innovation and Leadership Congratulations Francine Katsoudas, and the other recipients of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching At Cisco, we empower people to make a difference. How? Through diversity, inclusion and collaboration. We embrace these words which are fundamental to who we are. We live and work by them every day, and they’re how we are making the unimaginable a reality.

Find out how you can help us build the future. cisco.com/careers

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Congratulations to All of the 2016 Women Worth Watching Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines aimed at improving patients’ lives. We offer a broad range of medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, neurological disease, organ transplantation, respiratory disease, eye and ear care and skin conditions. The company’s mission is to improve people’s lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.

We are committed to embracing and leveraging diverse backgrounds, cultures and talents to create an inclusive, high-performing culture, to address the evolving needs of patients and customers, to support diverse suppliers, and to enrich the communities we serve.

Please visit our website at: www.pharma.us.novartis.com

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Comcast Corporation Media, Entertainment, Telecommunications & Technology Brian L. Roberts 153,000 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

MYRNA SOTO

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & GLOBAL CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER COMCAST CORPORATION

CYBERSECURITY EXPERT STRATEGICALLY LEADING COMCAST With 25 years of information security and technology leadership expertise across a number of industries, Myrna Soto is a wellrespected cybersecurity expert and one of the most senior women at Comcast Corporation.

As Comcast’s senior vice president and global chief information security officer, Soto leads the alignment and development of cyber and data security strategies and policies across the entire Comcast enterprise, including Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Comcast Spectacor. She works closely with technology and security teams to develop cyber security, network infrastructure security, data security strategies, and operational efficacy in security programs, policies, and technology risk management.

Soto says being a woman in her 56

industry provides a great diversity of prospective, and she pays it forward by serving as mentor to many at Comcast. Soto is the executive champion of Comcast’s Hispanic employee resource group Unidos, an executive management committee board member of the Hispanic IT Executive Council, and a member on the board of directors of CMS Energy, Consumers Energy, and Spirit Airlines. She also serves on the board of trustees for Cabrini University.

Soto believes the most important qualities a woman leader should have are integrity, willingness to take risks, and perseverance. “Be patient success is not immediate, nor is it in the most obvious places,” she said.

Her expertise includes cyber security experience in the media, telecom, financial services, hospitality, insurance risk management and

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

gaming/entertainment sectors. Prior to joining Comcast, Soto served as Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Information Technology Governance for MGM Resorts International. She’s also held senior leadership positions with American Express, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Kemper Insurance.

Her numerous accolades include the 2015 CSO Compass Award, and recognition by SC Magazine among the “Top 10 Power Players for Women in Security.” She holds a bachelor degree from Florida International University, and an MS in industrial psychology and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Words she lives by: “Challenge yourself and others – never settle for the status quo, be a disruptor.” PDJ

Company: Cooper Standard Industry: Automotive CEO: Jeffrey S. Edwards Employees: 30,000 Headquarters: Novi, Michigan

CHRISTINE KRATHWOHL

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN & CORPORATE OFFICER COOPER STANDARD

ALIGNING GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN WITH CORPORATE GOALS Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry List. She is actively involved in fundraising for a number of charitable causes, including The Boys & Girls Club of With two decades of experience, Krathwohl says her biggest Detroit, Cooper Standard’s Careers she leads the automotive industry career leap was making the move for Veterans, and Gilda’s Club “Burn supplier’s strategy for purchasing, to Germany to manage General logistics, vendor management, and Motor’s European Supply Operations. the Mortgage” initiative. She’s also active in enrichment programs for supplier quality. Colleagues say her “I learned you can be successful Detroit-area school children and extensive automotive supply chain managing people regardless of the expertise makes her a valuable country and culture if you understand STEM education. She is a founding member of Lace Up Detroit, which addition to the Cooper Standard team and respect them,” she said. collects shoes and winter boots for and instrumental in bringing the Krathwohl says the most important global supply chain in alignment with qualities a woman leader should have women and children in need. corporate growth strategies. are determination and integrity. “You Krathwohl holds an MBA and BS in don’t have to be a bull in a china shop materials and logistics management Prior to Cooper Standard, to be effective,” she said. “Take risks from Michigan State University.

Krathwohl worked for 11 years and have faith in your abilities. ” in progressively responsible roles Words she lives by: “Work hard at General Motors Company in Last year, she was named to the and enjoy life, tomorrow is not a guarantee.” PDJ Christine Krathwohl serves as vice president global supply chain and corporate officer at Cooper Standard, managing a worldwide team of over 200 members.

Germany and the United States. She has also held positions with Visteon, Ford Motor Company, and Jack Cooper Holdings in Michigan and Georgia.

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Cox Automotive Automotive Sandy Schwartz 32,000+ Atlanta, Georgia

NUAN OPENSHAW-DION VICE PRESIDENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COX AUTOMOTIVE

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL TEAMS FOR CORPORATE GROWTH A

s vice president of professional services at Cox Automotive, Nuan Openshaw-Dion works closely with engineering teams and top clients around the world delivering solutions for corporate growth.

building high performing teams while maintaining a core commitment to creating a strong, positive culture and delivering business value.

“Relationships matter,” she said.

making your teams successful will ultimately lead to success of the entire organization.”

Openshaw-Dion believes the most important quality a woman leader She has held various leadership should have is confidence. “Everyone She has successfully taken roles within the company, all of which struggles with confidence, male and have required her to work closely with female,” she said. “You are more on several unique and complex challenges throughout her career engineering teams and top clients. capable than you think. You just have with the company. One of which was She says her biggest career leap was to believe in yourself.” the formation of a group charged being promoted from manager of a She holds an MBA and BA in with creating solutions from the team of business analysts to director business administration from the company’s existing product portfolio of client solutions managers. In that College of William and Mary, and for clients and partners. Working transition, she successfully developed a BA in economics and computer alongside sales and client services, she a unique client engagement model, information systems from James has transformed how the company grew several teams, and strengthened Madison University. interacts with clients, tripled the size client partnerships.

Words she lives by: “Relationships of the group and delivered successful “The leap from software matter. The more we care about who solutions. They included launching engineering to client services we work and associate with, the more large, complex, and unique OEM forced me to change my perspective successful we will be.” PDJ programs with aggressive timelines.

- the lens in which I looked at Her colleagues say she’s an solving problems,” she said. “It was a reminder that focusing on outstanding leader, known for 58

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

JANE GITERE

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL SALES COX AUTOMOTIVE Company: Cox Automotive (Ready Logistics Brand) Industry: Automotive CEO: Sandy Schwartz Employees: 32,000+ Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

LEADER BUILDING SUCCESSFUL TEAMS As the Senior Director of Commercial Sales for the Ready Logistics brand at Cox Automotive, Jane Gitere leads a team responsible for moving thousands of vehicles all over the country for major automobile manufacturers, large financial institutions and major dealers.

Her leadership, insight, and drive have been instrumental in the brand’s ability to grow, scaling from 30,000 to 150,000 vehicles per month.

She is known for her auto industry knowledge and has a reputation as a leader who gets the job done.

Ms. Gitere’s colleagues say her unique leadership style allows her to keep her team focused on the customers, stay on track and moving forward. She launched her career as a client specialist with Manheim Auctions in 2006 and quickly moved

up the ranks. Her ability to lead through influence rapidly propelled her to a supervisor position. Guiding and leading her team through industry changes and ever growing customer. When the time came for Manheim to transition Ready Auto Transport from a small startup to one of the world’s largest vehicles logistics companies, Gitere's name was at the top of the list and led to a directors’ role at Manheim.

Gitere believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is authenticity. “Being true to what you believe in makes you progressive, relevant and confident,” she said. “Stay true to yourself and your work; it always pays off.”

She said the move from an individual contributor to a manager, with the responsibility of leading and

motivating others, was her biggest career leap. “I learned it can be challenging but rewarding at the same time. Patience, being present, and getting buy-in from team members helps build strong successful teams,” she said.

Gitere is also active in her community, including but not limited to preparing food at the Ronald MacDonald House, swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity and volunteering at United Food Bank among others.

Her advice to others is to seek great mentors early on and to stop and celebrate success often. She holds a degree in International Business Administration from United States International University.

Words she lives by: “Do not give up on your dreams.” PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Cox Automotive Automotive Sandy Schwartz 32,000+ Atlanta, Georgia

LYDIA JAMES

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF INSIDE SALES COX AUTOMOTIVE

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP INFLUENCING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES Lydia James is responsible for increasing market share and driving conversion for online and offline channels at Manheim, the wholesale vehicle marketplace for Cox Automotive.

She’s accountable for building the largest wholesale auto auction by leading the strategic direction to increase market share. As Manheim’s senior director of inside sales, James leads customer acquisitions, market place growth and development of a world class inside sales team.

Her colleagues say her focus is on change and process management and the result is transformational leadership and strategic direction.

They say she consistently demonstrates an ability to lead, be strategic, and deliver results. She says her biggest career leap was making the transition from systems 60

engineer to consultant. “I learned I could no longer make things happen by touching the dials,” James said.

“Change occurs through influence and outcomes.”

James’ background includes more than a decade of experience in both public and private sectors. She has held various roles within the U.S. Department of Defense and in the public sector focusing on technology enterprise solutions and mergers and acquisitions with Raytheon Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, and The Home Depot. She is a certified project management professional, change manager, and Six Sigma Green Belt with extensive accomplishments in root cause identification and translating business strategies into solutions.

James is active in the community and currently serves as the Chair for

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

the Atlanta chapter of the Project Management Institute, a global leader of project and program management.

In addition, she serves as a career coach for the executive MBA program at Kennesaw State University.

Previously, she served as the Women in Technology program Chair for Careers in Action - Reinventing Your Career, a program dedicated to helping women find their career path, and as a Big Sister to bring positive perspective to youths.

James believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is courage. “Know your value and own it,” she said. She holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University, Florida and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Regis University. PDJ

PATTY TURNER

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES COX AUTOMOTIVE

Company: Cox Automotive (NextGear Capital) Industry: Automotive CEO: Sandy Schwartz Employees: 32,000+ Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

REVOLUTIONIZING AUTOMOBILE FINANCING Patty Turner has successfully navigated a rewarding career, both as an automotive remarketing professional and as an outstanding community advocate.

inventory financing companies.

“Building a company from the bottom up was a once in a lifetime experience, and 11 years later I still find the challenges as exciting as I did on day one,” she said.

one of the most defining moments in her career was a former boss telling her "You've got the right to be in the room, so act like it."

In addition to her professional As senior director of Corporate obligations, Turner embodies the Services at Cox Automotive’s true meaning of servant-leadership.

Turner has overseen 18 facility NextGear Capital, she builds build-outs for Cox’s NextGear Capital, She has served on four boards and corporate responsibility while serving including the Indiana headquarters 16 committees in just the past three over 17,000 auto dealers and 1,000 and offices in Canada and the United years. Her commitment to service is auctions across North America. The evident throughout Cox’s companies, Kingdom. Her colleagues say her company revenues last year were where she spearheads corporate confidence and forward thinking about $5 billion. volunteer programs aligning with make her a valuable asset to the worthwhile causes. Earlier this year, At the inventory financing company, where she consistently during Cox Automotive’s annual powerhouse, Turner is helping delivers projects on time and under to revolutionize the automotive budget. They say she brings a servant philanthropic No Excuses campaign, there was a 50 percent year-overfinance industry through innovative heart and team member perspective year increase in volunteerism. Her solutions for vehicle dealers. Earlier that drives engagement and colleagues say she is an innovator in her career, Turner ran a successful corporate culture. at heart and the kind of leader that business in the Indianapolis She says the most important influences and inspires those market prior to partnering in the quality a woman leader should have around her. PDJ automotive industry. That passion and is determination: “Most successful entrepreneurial spirit helped fuel the women rise to the challenge, embrace creation of three major automotive change and never give up!” She said Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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TRACY CRAIG

PRINCIPAL CRAIG COMMUNICATIONS

Company: Craig Communications Industry: Public Affairs Consulting CEO: Tracy Craig Employees: 14 Headquarters: Oakland, California

INNOVATIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH LEADER Tracy Craig founded Craig Communications 16 years ago with an income tax refund and a passion for serving the public. Today, the single mother of two operates a successful woman-owned business with three locations in California.

The firm specializes in innovative public outreach programs that engage and involve diverse populations and give voice to under-represented community members. Craig is a recognized leader in public participation and securing community awareness and involvement in complex and controversial projects. She’s been successful on some of the toughest land use and development projects on the West Coast.

Craig’s colleagues say she’s a 62

leader with a passion for grass roots community involvement who exemplifies innovation, diversity, and engagement in the workplace.

Her numerous successes include spearheading a hiring program for the unemployed and homeless, developing a supplier diversity and mentorship program targeted at underserved populations, and establishing a business networking program for Latino suppliers.

this year established a $50,000 Craig Communications Scholarship Program for underserved high school students. She operates an in-house mentorship program for underserved youth interested in the communications sector and she and her staff regularly volunteer in communities where they support projects. She also gives her staff paid time off to volunteer at a social organization of their choice.

She relies on a talented stable of local, small, and diverse suppliers and routinely partners with nongovernmental organizations and community-based groups.

Craig says she knew she had the perfect career fit when she was able to offer her employees the work environment she always wanted for herself: interesting and meaningful work in a fast-paced, team-oriented, diverse, flexible, and fun setting. She holds a BA in Journalism from San Diego State University. PDJ

Craig lives by the words “be kind and give more than you take.”

She donates a percentage of the company’s annual profits and earlier

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Dechert LLP Law Firm Henry Nassau Nearly 2,000 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

CATHERINE BOTTICELLI PARTNER

DECHERT LLP As a nationally recognized securities enforcement defense attorney, Catherine Botticelli routinely handles high-stakes matters impacting the asset management sector.

For the past two decades, the Dechert LLP lawyer has represented financial services firms and corporations, their boards, committees, officers, directors, and employees before the Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA and various state regulators.

Botticelli has extensive experience conducting internal investigations in the public company and asset management areas and in advising audit and special litigation committees. She has advised numerous asset management firms and mutual fund boards involved in SEC examinations, as well as SEC enforcement matters and internal investigations relating to market timing, revenue sharing, insider trading, distribution in guise, securities lending, valuation, pay-toplay, and conflicts of interest.

Botticelli says her biggest career leap was moving from New York City to Washington, D.C. “I developed a new legal specialty I likely wouldn’t have pursued in New York City,” she said. Her career advice to others is be open to new experiences. “They will take you places you never would have expected,” Botticelli said.

Botticelli has several leadership roles at Dechert. Among them, she sits on the firms’ governing policy committee and also serves as the

SECURITIES ATTORNEY IMPACTING ASSET MANAGEMENT SECTOR deputy chair of talent. She helps to empower young lawyers as a contributor to the Global Women’s Initiative, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment at the firm.

Throughout her career, she has lectured and written regularly on enforcement matters and initiatives affecting public companies, as well as the regulatory risks faced by the asset management industry. She is frequently sought for authoritative comment by legal journals and industry publications. As member of President Clinton’s transition team after the 1992 election, she was also involved with vetting potential cabinet members and judges.

In addition to maintaining an active caseload and media portfolio, Botticelli’s pro bono work includes her support for the efforts of the Tahirih Justice Center in protecting immigrant women and girls who live in the U.S. and have a legitimate claim to legal status under U.S. immigration law as survivors of gender-based violence. Earlier this year, Tahirih honored Dechert as its Firm of the Year for Greater D.C. Botticelli holds a BA in Economics from Fordham University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Words she lives by: "It is almost always better to play the long game.” PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Celebrating those who are making a difference.

KeyBank’s award-winning culture of diversity, inclusion, and transformative philanthropy is a testament to the entire team. We are proud that the quality of our collective work and character are attracting other talented employees as well as top clients and vendor partners.

Congratulations to all of the 2016 Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching who are using their talent, their influence, and their passion to make a difference for their clients, their colleagues, and their communities. A special congratulations to our own Trina Evans, Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Center, a woman worth watching… and following.

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©2016 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

160721-107931

“At KeyBank, every employee is encouraged to bring their whole self to work with a sense of confidence and pride in who we are and what we do.

Every day and in every way, our culture is proof positive that diversity and inclusion are a powerful combination that lifts us all and propels us forward.”

Trina Evans Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Center, KeyCorp

MEG HOPKINS TAYLOR

ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Company: Delta Air Lines, Inc. Industry: Aviation and Transportation CEO: Ed Bastian Employees: 80,000 Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

DELTA AIR LINES ATTORNEY INSPIRES OTHERS TO SOAR M eg Hopkins Taylor is responsible for overseeing compliance with employment laws at Delta Air Lines, Inc. As associate general counsel, she’s accountable for defending the company in employment litigation and administrative proceedings, and providing employment-related training and counseling for the airline.

Taylor’s colleagues say she is an inspirational leader, an excellent lawyer, and a skilled communicator.

They say she has the rare ability to correct individuals without alienating them, and inspires others to achieve their best.

within the company and assisting with the development of policies and practices to encourage retention and advancement of women. Taylor believes a female leader’s most important quality is preparation. “A leader first must be well prepared and knowledgeable before she can be confident, credible, and effective,” she said.

She says her biggest career leap came early in her legal career when she volunteered for a cross-divisional bankruptcy reorganization team, without having much knowledge about the process. “I gained a broad appreciation for the business She’s integrally involved with Delta’s complexities at stake and developed new and important working diversity efforts, serving as a mentor relationships,” Taylor said. to young women and minorities

She adds the best way to become a strong leader is to proactively look for and take leadership opportunities, big or small, within or outside of your profession. “Don’t wait for permission to lead,” Taylor said.

Taylor is a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Law and Judiciary Committee and for the past six years has served as a board member for Catholic Charities of Atlanta. She holds a BA from James Madison University and her J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary.

Words she lives by: “Be authentic, 100 percent of the time.” PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Denny’s Restaurant John C. Miller 8,340 Spartanburg, South Carolina

APRIL KELLY-DRUMMOND

DIRECTOR, DIVERSITY AFFAIRS AND MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT DENNY’S

DENNY’S DIVERSITY DIRECTOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER As director of diversity affairs and multicultural engagement at Denny’s restaurants, April Kelly-Drummond has spent two decades promoting and standing proud for a diverse, inclusive workforce.

leap. “It was instrumental in helping me grow and think more strategically, as well as putting me on the path to where I am today,” she said. She believes trustworthiness is essential for female leadership. “If your team Her colleagues say she is tireless in doesn’t trust you, it doesn’t matter her efforts to bring all people together how competent and driven you are as a female leader,” she said. "Let your to create an environment of respect. smile change the world, but don't let Drummond joined Denny’s in the the world change your smile." early 1990’s and worked her way through the ranks while continuing Drummond works with communities and organizations in her education and remaining active with numerous community and local her initiatives to advance diversity service organizations. The company and inclusion. Earlier this year says her work has been invaluable and she worked with the College of has been acknowledged in the book Charleston’s School of Professional Studies to launch a conference, The Denny’s Story: How a Company in Crisis Resurrected Its Good Name Advancing Diversity and Inclusion: Building Successful Organizations and Reputation.

Along her career path, Drummond and Communities. The initiative was describes her move from a coordinator aimed at advancing the conversation of diversity and inclusion in the to a manager as her biggest career 66

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

community by bringing together more than 100 business leaders, educators, elected officials, and community leaders.

Drummond has received many accolades for her work, including recognition among Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Influential Women in Corporate America and Minority Advocate of the Year by Asian Enterprise Magazine. She is a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate South Carolina chapter and the NAACP Florida State conference. She holds a BA in professional studies from the College of Charleston.

Words she lives by: “Stay true to yourself and never compromise your values or integrity. Pride yourself on always doing the right thing, even when you think no one is watching.” PDJ

TANIA OPPEDISANO NATIONAL DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES DIALOG

Company: DIALOG Industry: Design CEO: Jim Anderson Employees: 600 Headquarters: Toronto, Canada

CANADIAN EXECUTIVE INSPIRING CORPORATE CULTURE As the national director of human resources at DIALOG, Tania Oppedisano manages the design firms’ diverse culture across Canada.

Her colleagues say she brings big picture thinking, enthusiasm, and energy to her daily work. They also say she’s an expert at finding the right hire to fit the firm culture at its various studios.

In addition to culture development and mentorship, Oppedisano works to identify business strategies and relevant metrics to ensure retention and success rates remain strong in DIALOG’ studios in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

She says her biggest career leap was moving from a corporation to a startup business. “I learned my passion lies in building an organization from the ground up,” she said. She provides leadership to DIALOG’s administrative team, while working with studio directors and team leaders on human resources strategy and initiatives.

engineering, interior design, urban planning design and landscape architecture.

Oppedisano believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is empathy and says one is never too young to reach for the next role. “Be yourself and be proud of it,” she said.

Oppedisano is actively involved Most recently, Oppedisano in the community, having been a revamped the firm’s annual employee key contributor to the company’s performance review into a progressive, support of the Centre for Addiction ongoing development program and Mental Health (CAMH), The focused on individual goal setting and United Way, Jane’s Walk, and a variety professional development. The goal of other community and charity is enhancing performance, retention, initiatives. She holds a Masters The company has been named a and ensuring corporate strength. in human resources and a BA in After joining the firm in 2009 as its Top 100 Employer in Canada for three sociology from York University, and consecutive years and Oppedisano HR manager, in her initial two years a certification in human resource Oppedisano grew the talent pool at the has been instrumental in its growth management from Humber College. company’s Toronto location from 37 and success. DIALOG is a fully Words she lives by: “Be yourself integrated, multi-disciplinary design to 130 employees. and proud of it!” PDJ firm, with a focus on architecture, Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Diverst, Inc. Enterprise Andre Laurin Startup Montreal, Canada

LUCY KEONI

SENIOR ADVISOR DIVERST, INC.

GLOBAL INNOVATION STRATEGIST BRIDGING THE GAP Lucy Keoni is a global innovation strategist known for connecting global markets to Silicon Valley companies for driving cross-cultural innovation.

She is a senior advisor to Diverst, Inc., a startup software company offering a diversity and inclusion platform that helps companies increase traction and obtain a return on investment from their diversity initiatives.

Colleagues there describe her as an entrepreneur, advisor, speaker, writer, and connector. She’s one of the youngest professionals to be named to Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 list. Her wellrounded business experience has culminated in focused efforts toward investments, initiatives, products, and services for underrepresented, 68

under-served populations.

Keoni advises several startups with diverse founders around the world and is a mentor with GSVLabs. In 2014, she co-founded StartUpRising, a coalition of tech influencers taking action to create inclusivity in tech and venture capital. “Together, we are cross-pollinating ideas, sharing resources, and spearheading initiatives to ensure that historically under-represented populations succeed and thrive in technology and venture capital,” she said.

She is also co-founder of Vietnamese Women in Tech as well as Unify Ventures which hosts investor dinners to encourage venture capital firms to co-invest in promising startups led by underrepresented founders.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Prior to the startup world, Keoni worked in the finance sector and says every step in her career has been a conscious decision toward achieving her goal. Her life’s goal is supporting and educating underrepresented investors and founders to collaboratively solve the world’s biggest problems. Through finance, Keoni says she was able to build relationships with powerful people and share their knowledge of financial literacy, economic parity, and entrepreneurship. Being in operations at a startup taught her the power of technology in changing lives. “Being an entrepreneur taught me there are better and easier ways to get things done,” she said. PDJ

MANUELA PAPADOPOL

Company: Elektrobit Industry: Automotive software CEO: Alex Kocher Employees: 1,900+ Headquarters: Erlangen, Germany

DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS ELEKTROBIT

DRIVING FORCE IN ADVANCING AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY Manuela Papadopol is on the cutting-edge as one of a handful of women in senior management positions in automotive technology.

As director of business development and communications for automotive software leader Elektrobit (EB), she’s devoted her career to advancing automotive technology. Her colleagues say she’s a tireless ambassador for the industry as it evolves toward highly automated features and, ultimately, self-driving cars.

With automotive software being the single most critical component for the self-driving cars of the future, Papadopol is breaking new ground for women daily in the auto industry as she builds relationships with leading automakers including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo.

During her previous tenure as Elektrobit’s director of global marketing, the company dramatically expanded its global marketing presence with 24 percent yearover-year growth. In addition to a greater presence in the Asia-Pacific and North American markets, Papadopol’s efforts were instrumental in establishing Elektrobit’s Silicon Valley Innovation Lab in 2015.

Papadopol is an active member of Women in Automotive Technology, an organization created to connect, educate, and drive the future of the automotive industry by creating programs, community, and events for women automotive technologists in the United States and Europe. Before joining Elektrobit, she was the global marketing manager for automotive programs at Microsoft, where she helped establish SYNC powered Her career advice is to leap before

by Microsoft as a benchmark for looking. “Don’t question yourself,” Papadopol said. “Instead, analyze, but automotive infotainment. don’t over-analyze. It has definitely She holds a BS in marketing from helped me over the years.” She says James Madison University, Bucharest it’s imperative for a woman leader Romania and a post-graduate to have conviction. “Have a strong certificate in public relations from vision and the willingness to see it the University of Washington. She through. If you want your team to also holds a patent in voice-activated produce quality results, you need to acquisition of non-local content. PDJ lead by example,” she said.

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Entergy Texas, Inc. Utility Sallie Rainer 371 Beaumont, Texas

SALLIE T. RAINER PRESIDENT AND CEO ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.

A

s president and CEO of Entergy Texas, Inc., Sallie Rainer is a trailblazer reshaping the electrical utility landscape in southeast Texas.

She provides executive oversight for the company’s electric infrastructure, customer service, regulatory and governmental affairs, economic development and financial performance. Entergy Texas serves 430,000 customers in 27 counties.

Under her leadership, the company’s sound ethical principles, alongside innovative initiatives in the community, have propelled the company to the forefront of the industry.

For two consecutive years, J.D. Powers and Associates has recognized Entergy Texas as Best in Class. Last year, Site Selection Magazine named the company one of the nation’s top 10 utilities in economic development for nearly $14.4 billion of capital investment and the creation of about 7,200 jobs in its service territory.

TRAILBLAZING IN TEXAS ENERGY SECTOR Rainer believes good communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across organizations are critical to success. “This coupled with a strong work ethic will take you a long way,” she said.

in the traditionally male-dominated energy industry. Earlier this year, she was honored by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce by being named to their Breakthrough Women list. The award is bestowed Rainer’s colleagues say she’s active in upon industry and community infrastructure improvements, economic trailblazers who demonstrate courage and leadership in reaching their development opportunities for career goals. communities, advocating for a diverse and inclusive workplace, and playing a Rainer serves as a member of the key role in community organizations. board of directors for Interfaith of When asked about being a woman The Woodlands, Lone Star College Foundation, the United Way of Greater in her profession, Rainer said it has Houston Regional Council, and the been a rewarding experience. “Take on something you don’t think you can Texas Children’s Hospital Ambassadors do,” she said. “I learned you can really and Leadership Cabinet.

Her colleagues say her leadership has instilled forward-thinking strategies to deliver value to customers, communities and the region. An example is the advocacy of $173 million in transmission additions and improvements to the company’s existing power grid for delivering customer service excellence surprise yourself.”

She holds a BA in engineering and economic development technology from Louisiana State Rainer is a mentor and advocate for opportunities to the region.

University and an MBA from Texas women to realize their full potential A&M University. PDJ 70

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Equis Staffing Industry: Staffing CEO: Carrie Nebens Employees: 200 Headquarters: Calabasas, California

CARRIE S. NEBENS PRESIDENT EQUIS STAFFING

CONNECTING CANDIDATES WITH CLIENTS As a master recruiter, Carrie Nebens is a staffing powerhouse on the West Coast, known for strategically connecting the right employees with the right companies.

operations in Southern California outsource their staffing to Equis.

Nebens says she enjoys helping eager job seekers with talent find the right fit. “Similarly, it is rewarding to As the owner of Equis Staffing, she’s watch an organization advance as a a natural connector with a devout result of that new employee,” she said. passion for the staffing industry.

Her colleagues say working under Excellent matches are her standard her is an invaluable education for and it’s reflected in her reputation. any professional. She’s a woman who “People drive the economy and when chooses to punch in at 5:30 a.m. on I make a great match, I share the the West Coast, because "its 8:30 EST jubilation with the candidate and and we're already chasing the day.” client. The right match makes all the She mentors many and is difference,” Nebens said. known to tap into her expensive professional network to help grow About a decade ago, she took someone’s career.

20 years of staffing expertise and founded Equis Staffing, a WBENC Nebens is the recipient of numerous firm that found its niche providing achievement awards in Los Angeles top tier IT and finance talent to Los and the San Fernando Valley, as well Angeles entertainment companies. as Inc. 5000 recognitions.

Today, some of the largest business

Nebens lives by the saying: “Be true to yourself.” She says the important characteristics of a woman leader are decisiveness and honesty. “When you are a leader who is blazing a trail, at times you must follow your gut instinct and make decisions that will advance progress. You may not always make the best decisions, but if you are honest, your moral compass will guide you in the right direction,” she said.

“Work is a part of life that not everyone enjoys, but I help people find jobs they love, and the organizations they employ are better for it,” she said. Nebens holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Maryland. PDJ

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Leader. Partner.

Neighbor.

We proudly congratulate our own Sallie Rainer, President and CEO, Entergy Texas, Inc., for being on this year’s “Women Worth Watching” list. Sallie is a great asset to our company and a committed member of the Southeast Texas community.

We thank Sallie for her continued dedication to excellence and congratulate other individuals recognized in the Profiles in Diversity Journal’s annual Women Worth Watching issue.

Together, we power life.

A message from Entergy Texas, Inc. ©2016 Entergy Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

ERA Franchise Systems LLC Real estate franchisor Sue Yannaccone 37,000 Brokers/Agents Worldwide Madison, New Jersey

SUE YANNACCONE PRESIDENT AND CEO ERA REAL ESTATE

LASER-FOCUSED ON GROWTH AND INNOVATION As the newly appointed president of ERA Real Estate, Sue Yannaccone has responsibility for a real estate franchisor operating in 33 countries with 2,350 offices and 37,000 sales associates worldwide. She has already proven she’s laser-focused on growth and innovation.

Colleagues say Yannaccone fosters an internal culture of transparency, collaboration, execution and accountability. “Our strategic direction is clear. We are charting a course for growth with innovation as the cornerstone of our plan,” she said.

growth for the brand by enhancing ERA's value proposition to brokers.

engagement, satisfaction and growth, Yannaccone has also overseen the They describe her as a dynamic real addition of a number of newly affiliated companies, notably in estate leader with strategic thinking Houston, Beverly Hills and the capabilities, strong business acumen Greater Boston markets, as well and outstanding relationship skills.

“I look forward to continuing to build as several strategic mergers and acquisitions for existing brokers in upon ERA’s uniquely collaborative culture and the value proposition we Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio. provide to our affiliated brokers and agents as well as homebuyers and Words she lives by: “Be authentic. sellers around the world,” Be unique. Be tough but fair. And Yannaccone said. always remember that you have to Her experience leading organizations own your decisions, no one else can.”

through transformational change, She joined the company just last coupled with her innovative strategic year as its chief operating officer, insight, has played a significant role in bringing two decades of expertise in ERA's system-wide implementation real estate consulting, operations and of a holistic, end-to-end technology sales. Colleagues say she’s successfully platform called Zap. leveraged her knowledge and With a focus on franchisee experience to facilitate and propel

She holds a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Clemson University. ERA Real Estate is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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national accounts in six short years and in 2006 she was promoted to senior director of programming.

Company: ESPN Industry: Multimedia / Entertainment CEO: John Skipper Employees: 8,000 worldwide Headquarters: Bristol, Connecticut

ROSALYN DURANT

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COLLEGE NETWORKS ESPN

ESPN EXECUTIVE ON PATH OF EXCELLENCE

Colleagues say her influence was immediate. She played a significant role in an eight-year contract extension with the NBA, which at the time was ESPN's mostcomprehensive digital rights package with a major professional sports league. She managed relationships with the NBA, Major League Soccer, FIFA and Olympic sport leagues. In 2008, she was named Vice President, ESPNU, where she maximized the value of ESPNU properties across the company's multimedia assets, including television, internet, radio, print, broadband and wireless. She’s also spearheaded the development of signature events for the network including the ESPNU Signing Day franchise.

Under Durant's supervision, ESPNU's nationwide distribution jumped from about 25 million homes to 74 million, signing long-term carriage agreements with the top 10 distributors, and is a staple of ESPN's industry-leading college sports programming portfolio.

After successfully steering ESPN's first college network she was promoted to vice president, college sports programming & acquisitions and oversaw all of ESPN's college osalyn Durant's career embodies Howard Foundation, dedicated to sports relationships and championed a path of excellence, achievement increasing diversity in the multimedia the company wide efforts surrounding and influence that has propelled her and entertainment industries. the inaugural College Football Playoff. at a young age.

Durant launched her career in 1998 Colleagues attribute her business Her colleagues say she’s a woman as an intern at ESPN and has rapidly acumen and expertise in developing on the rise who has made her imprint ascended to become a top executive meaningful business relationships as within The Walt Disney Company within company and the sports the keys to rapid success. (owner of ESPN), the cable community community it serves. “I knew my Today, she’s the senior vice and the sports world at large. Durant present career was what I wanted to president of college networks and has built her reputation on strategic do when I interned at ESPN. I didn’t sets the strategic direction for acceleration of the businesses under want the summer to end,” she said.

ESPN's portfolio of college dedicated her purview and the ability to develop Her advancement began in affiliate channels, including ESPNU, SEC and maintain key relationships. sales and marketing where her Network and Longhorn Network.

She is committed to eradicating internship turned into a full-time Words she lives by: What invisible boundaries for all and sits job. Her skill set and professionalism you do today creates every on the Board of Directors of the T. propelled her to senior director of tomorrow. (Oprah) PDJ

R

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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Excellus BCBS Health Insurance Christopher C. Booth 5,630 Rochester, New York

JOCELYN EVANS

VICE PRESIDENT ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT EXCELLUS BCBS

INSPIRATIONAL AND PASSIONATE LEADER Jocelyn Evans oversees a complex business area at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the largest nonprofit health insurer in upstate New York.

She has oversight of key business processes that reach about 1.2 million of the health plan’s membership.

Her colleagues say she’s an inspirational and passionate leader who serves as an excellent role model and a continuous staff resource.

They further say she seeks ways to collaborate, improve enrollment processes and find solutions while keeping the customer in the forefront.

Evans is credited with recent emotional issues related to a cancer improvements that have resulted in diagnosis and the recovery process. improved quality and efficiency at Today, outside of work, she’s active the company. with youth mentoring programs in “When I tap into my passion for Rochester, N.Y. She’s a co-founder helping people by creating growth and board member of the Pop Warner opportunities and fairness is when I’m Monroe County Redskins Football in my zone and where I want to be,” and Cheer program, which enrolled Evans said. about 170 students this season. The Evans lives by the words: Learn, league is part of the national, nonLive, Laugh. She says her greatest profit Pop Warner organization, with achievement has been being a mom the objective of developing wellwhile overcoming physical and rounded young men and women who

learn not only the fundamentals of football and cheerleading, but also the importance of education in an atmosphere conducive to developing sound character while having a good time.

Evans says the most important qualities a woman leader should have are compassion, fairness, drive, confidence, and a love for learning and listening. She holds a bachelor degree from the University of Rochester. PDJ

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Company: EY Industry: Financial services CEO: Mark A Weinberger Employees: 220,000 Headquarters: London, England

LESLIE PATTERSON PARTNER EY

ACCOUNTABLE STRATEGIC GROWTH LEADER A s the Southeast Talent Leader, Leslie Patterson oversees the development and career needs of 3,500 EY professionals across 15 offices, as well as a portion of the firm’s Caribbean practice.

Patterson also serves as the Growth Markets Leader for Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, where she is responsible for building awareness of EY’s services and programs in relation to entrepreneurship, familyowned and private businesses, private equity and venture capital backed companies, and IPO and strategic transactions.

Her colleagues say she is a driven and focused leader who has successfully worked to build a more diverse and a more inclusive workplace at the firm. Her keen business insights and variety of experiences at EY have wellpositioned Patterson to hold dual roles with the firm.

Patterson is a partner and has been with EY for 23 years, where she launched her career as a CPA in the 76

firm’s Assurance practice. Over the years, she has served as the Americas Director of the Office of Diversity Strategy and Development, and has been a successful national recruiter, focusing primarily on the firm’s minority campus and experienced hire recruitment efforts. She is a member of EY’s Americas Talent Executive Committee and has served on multiple Global and Americas Task Forces.

Among her numerous professional and community initiatives, she serves as a board member on Hampton University’s Board of Trustees, the Atlanta Police Foundation Board, the Trinity School Board of Trustees, and Vanderbilt University’s MaCC Advisory Board.

University and an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Words she lives by: “Respect is earned; honesty is appreciated; trust is gained, and loyalty is returned.”

She attributes finding a healthy work-life balance to flexibility, which allows for a smooth flow with three sons, a husband, and a demanding career. “Flexibility not only helps manage my office and home schedules, but it also assists me in being a better leader who understands the need to accept and to rapidly adapt in our changing industry,” Patterson said.

She believes learning from success is important, but learning from failure is vital to succeeding. Patterson shares She is also a member of the Georgia “It’s imperative to remember one’s State Society of CPAs, Leadership actions and/or reactions during trying Atlanta, American Institute of times can determine the impressions Certified Public Accountants, of others and can serve as teaching or National Association of Black mentoring moments. There is always Accountants (Life Member) and the something to learn from or to pass American Accounting Association. on to others to aid in one’s own or Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science another’s success.” PDJ in accounting from Hampton

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

PROVIDING STRATEGIC DIRECTION IN GLOBAL MARKETPLACE Jill Brannon decided a career in the transportation business was a good fit when she first traveled outside of the United States. “I knew I wanted to work in a thriving, energetic global company, and FedEx has blessed me with the opportunity to learn, lead, and work with terrific people and give back to local communities around the world,” she said.

As senior vice president of sales in Europe, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, Brannon provides strategic direction for the sales activities for the FedEx portfolio of services. She leads a team that includes large global portfolio solutions, small company services, and geographic and sector selling; as well as overseeing sales operations, planning, and analysis.

She believes the most important thing a leader can do is take purposeful action. “This includes having a vision, understanding what to do and how to do it, and communicating it often and consistently, starting from the strategy all the way down to celebrating success,” Brannon said.

Brannon’s career at FedEx spans three decades. She assumed her current role earlier this year after serving as senior vice president of FedEx International Sales. In addition to other executive roles in the company, she has served as a director in worldwide services, where she focused on global supply chain and logistics solutions for the high-tech sector. She describes moving to FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, to assume a strategic planning position as her biggest career leap.

“I experienced the depth of how to get work in a successful global super brand company,” Brannon said.

JILL BRANNON

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL SALES FEDEX Brannon is a member of the FedEx diversity and inclusion executive steering committee, where her colleagues say she has been instrumental in creating the vision of a diverse and inclusive environment.

She has served on the boards of the US-ASEAN Business Council and the International Children’s Heart Foundation.

Brannon lives by the words “please” and “thank you.” She holds degrees in International Business and French from Lenoir-Ryhne College. PDJ

Company: Industry:

CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

FedEx Global Transportation and Logistics Frederick W. Smith 400,000+ Memphis, Tennessee

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LYNNE WALKER

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF AFFINITY BANKING STRATEGY FIRST HORIZON NATIONAL CORP.

Company: First Horizon National Corp.

Industry: Financial Services/Banking CEO: D. Bryan Jordan Employees: 4,300 Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee

DIVERSIFYING TEAMS IN THE BANKING SECTOR Lynne Walker is a banker who learned to successfully engage with diverse circles while growing up near Princeton, New Jersey. Today, she has a passion for diversifying corporate teams and accessing diverse customers and vendors.

Walker says diversity plus inclusion is an incomplete equation. To achieve the ideal state of spontaneous inclusion, she says you have to build trust across diverse groups by spending time together and building relationships. Her complete formula is diversity plus affinity equals inclusion.

She says ultimately her father was her role model for living inclusion. “I remember my father's determination and perseverance integrating a neighborhood to buy our first home.

I learned to accept challenges, be confident and make tough decisions,” she said. “Tough conversations often lead to better understandings and outcomes for all.”

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Walker’s background is the lens through which she shapes First Horizon National’s diversity strategy.

Her curiosity for business peaked in college seeing company names on buildings and trucks. She was intrigued with how they operated and wondered how they treated their employees.

minority and women owned businesses and offering mortgages to low to moderate income customers.

“Banks impact the economy, business and personal financial success, and the success of communities,” she said.

“And diversity powerfully impacts everyone’s bottom line.”

Walker served in leadership roles She’s put that curiosity into play for the Self-Help Credit Union over a 30 year career in corporate in North Carolina, UNCC Belk banking. Today, as executive vice College of Business, the Charlottepresident and director of First Mecklenburg Urban League, the Horizon’s Affinity Banking Strategy, United Way Women’s Leadership she says leaders should model Council, and Ballet Memphis and inclusion and give back. “Mentor in currently serves on the board of broad circles. Share what you have Women’s Foundation for a Greater learned. Not just after you've made it, Memphis. She holds a BA in but all along the way,” she said. economics and sociology from Duke University and lives by the words Walker was named one of the “be grateful.” PDJ Charlotte Business Journal’s Top Women in Business and the SBA Small Business Advocate of the Year when she created a team focused on educating and lending to small,

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

NATALIE ARBAUGH LITIGATION PRINCIPAL FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Fish & Richardson P.C. Intellectual Property Law Peter Devlin 1,159 National

LEADING TRIAL LAWYER PASSIONATE ABOUT DIVERSITY A leading business and intellectual property trial attorney, Natalie Arbaugh has a reputation for impeccable client service, creative problem solving and courtroom excellence.

A principal with Fish & Richardson P.C., Arbaugh tries complex and often high-profile cases. Before reaching the age of 40, she was co-lead counsel on one of the largest fraud cases in Texas history. That effort took place over eight years and resulted in a $158 million settlement. The recordbreaking case resulted in Fish & Richardson being named a Litigation Department of the Year finalist and contributed to Arbaugh being named a 2014 ‘Winning Woman’ by Texas Lawyer Magazine. Arbaugh also was a member on the trial team for the widely publicized insider trading case brought by the SEC against billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban. The jury cleared Cuban of any wrongdoing following trial, earning the firm’s litigation department a ranking among Texas’ best in 2014.

In a recent case, Arbaugh obtained sanctions against her opponents after methodically building a case to show that they falsified evidence, and committed perjury and fraud.

Arbaugh obtained $38 million in trebled damages. In its opinion, the trial court judge stated, “Counsel’s skill and expertise has been evident throughout this litigation, and their performance under taxing circumstances has been impressive.”

the women in the firm. Her advice to other women is not to worry about how you are going to do it “all” in the future before “all” has even arrived.

“Instead, just do it and figure it out as you go,” Arbaugh said. “Worrying about it will only stifle you and keep you from reaching your full potential.”

Arbaugh describes her biggest career leap as her first trial serving as lead trial counsel. “I learned that being ‘lead’ at anything doesn’t mean you now have to go at it alone. Your mentors and role models still play an invaluable role.”

Words she lives by: Forgive easily, and don’t judge. “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, so you should always seek to understand - and be kind.” On the other hand, Arbaugh said, “you can’t beat yourself up when you can’t make others happy. Some people will love you, others will hate you - don’t take either extreme to heart since it is likely none of it will have anything to do with you. Lead with authenticity and the rest will fall into place.” PDJ

Arbaugh mentors women lawyers and is committed to bringing diversity to the legal profession. She leads the firm's EMPOWER Women's Initiative, which provides professional and business development opportunities, mentoring, training, and support to

Arbaugh received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a BA from the University of Florida.

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LINDA LIU KORDZIEL PRINCIPAL FISH & RICHARDSON

Company: Fish & Richardson P.C. Industry: Intellectual Property Law CEO: Peter Devlin Employees: 1,159 Headquarters: National

LITIGATOR COMBINES LEGAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE As a leading patent litigator at Fish & Richardson, Linda Liu Kordziel has a reputation as a winning lawyer with vast technical expertise and a natural ability to simplify complex technical information for judges and juries.

Kordziel’s legal career came to fruition while she was a double major in biomedical and electrical engineering at Duke University.

When she learned about patent law, she said the mix of legal and technical matter was exactly where she wanted to focus her energy. “Patent law has been a great way to work in both areas,” she said.

Today, she’s with the largest intellectual property firm in the county where she’s made a name for 80

herself handling high stakes patent disputes in federal courts and before the International Trade Commission.

She has worked tirelessly to protect a client’s technology for hybrid electric vehicles and has earlier reached a settlement closing out an ITC investigation and three separate federal district court cases. Kordziel continues to protect the client’s patented technology from infringement by other auto manufacturers. Last year, she was colead counsel on the team winning a $28.9 million jury verdict.

She has been named a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer for the past three consecutive years and has been

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

involved in a variety of pro bono and nonprofit organizations. Among them are the Children’s Law Center and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association. At the firm, she serves on the selection panel for the 1L Diversity Fellowship Program, which provides diverse first year law students an academic scholarship and a paid summer associate program at the firm. She is also the Litigation Group Leader in Washington D.C. and chairs the Litigation Marketing Group Leaders Committee.

Kordziel received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and BS degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering from Duke University. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Fish & Richardson P.C. Intellectual Property Law Peter Devlin 1,159 National

CYNTHIA JOHNSON WALDEN PRINCIPAL PRACTICE GROUP LEADER TRADEMARK & COPYRIGHT FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.

LAWYER BUILDING VALUE IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE Influential trademark and copyright attorney Cynthia Johnson Walden works to help some of the largest companies in the world build value in the marketplace by protecting their names, trademarks and brands.

“At the time, I had two small children and a full plate, but I was eager for the opportunity and have grown and learned a lot through this role and the challenges and opportunities it has provided,” she said.

She initially came to the intellectual property law industry in a roundabout way. Just out of college, she was working as an assistant account executive at a major New York advertising agency, where she was accountable for obtaining legal approvals for commercials with in-house counsel and television networks. The inspiration from that role led her on a path to becoming one of the most influential trademark and copyright lawyers in the world.

Under Walden’s leadership, the firm has consistently been ranked a Top Trademark Law Firm by World Trademark Review. Walden and her team help create value in some of the world’s biggest companies - including Bose, Proctor & Gamble, Gillette, 3M, Steinway & Sons, Honda, Ben & Jerry’s, Sabre, and Samsung - protecting their trademarks and brands.

Outside the office, Walden has actively participated in the International Trademark Association, including As practice group leader of the serving on various committees and trademark and copyright group at playing an active role in conducting Fish & Richardson, Walden is the first the INTA National Lefkowitz Moot woman to lead the group, overseeing Court Competition for the past 18 all of the firm’s trademark and years. She’s also an advisory board copyright matters. She says taking on member for the Women in Law the role was her biggest career leap.

Empowerment Forum.

Walden’s career advice to other women is to identify and cultivate relationships with mentors who can develop skills and perspective necessary for career advancement and goal achievement. She received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a BA from Dartmouth College. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: FordHarrison LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Lash Harrison Employees: 300 Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

TIFFANY DOWNS PARTNER FORDHARRISON LLP

GLOBAL BENEFITS LAWYER THRIVES IN HIGHLY REGULATED AREAS As a partner with FordHarrison LLP, Tiffany Downs thrives on helping clients achieve their goals by incentivizing their employees. At the labor and employment firm, she counsels clients operating in a highly regulated, litigious business climate.

She advises and assists plan administrators and fiduciaries with the design, drafting and administration of welfare and pension plans and non-qualified plans; as well as ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA and Tax Code compliance issues. She also leads the firms’ Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. She says employee benefits and executive compensation are an integral part of clients’ business goals.

Downs’ colleagues attribute her success to her tenacity and an unwavering upbeat attitude. They say her personal motto is to “never say 82

no; always find a way to make it happen.”

By becoming a leader of a practice group and being responsible for others, Downs said she learned that seeking input from others, being flexible and evaluating all of the options are tantamount to success.

“Through my merger and acquisition work, I have a positive impact after the deal by integrating the cultures of the companies, and helping clients retain talent with incentives and benefits,” she said. She’s delivered over 150 presentations on the Affordable Care Act requirements, and has assisted numerous employers with the play or pay analysis and the Act's impact on structure of the workforce.

firm alliance, of which FordHarrison is the sole U.S. member firm. She serves on Health Care Reform task forces for several industry groups, is a member of the Employee Benefits Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce and is an adjunct professor at Atlanta's John Marshall School of Law, where she teaches an employee benefits class in the LLM program. She previously worked for the United States Department of Labor.

Due to her success in representing her clients and her depth of knowledge in employee benefits issues, she was selected by FordHarrison’s leadership to serve on the Nominating Committee for Succession Planning and as its Privacy Officer, providing guidance on the Downs co-chairs the firm’s firm’s data privacy practices. Downs Employee Compensation and Benefits holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School International Practice Group (IPG) and a BS from the University for Ius Laboris, the global HR law of Louisiana. PDJ

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

★ ★ ★ Congratulations Sue Yannaccone ★ ★ ★ A 2 0 1 6 W O M A N W O R T H WAT C H I N G

© 2016 ERA Franchise Systems y LLC. A Realogy gy Company. p y All Rights g Reserved. ERA Franchise Systems y LLC fully y supports pp the p principles p of the Fair Housing g Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. ERA and the ERA logo are registered service marks licensed to ERA Franchise Systems LLC.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP Legal Edward Braham 4,859 London, United Kingdom

VALERIE FORD JACOB

PARTNER FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER LLP

CAPITAL MARKETS LAWYER LEGEND IN THE BUSINESS Over the course of her legal career, Valerie Ford Jacob has established herself as one of the most accomplished capital markets attorneys in the world. A driving force in high stakes banking and finance law, Jacob’s work is well-known on Wall Street and beyond.

As a partner with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in New York, she is co-head of the firm’s Global Capital Markets Practice and its Financial Institutions Group, regularly advising a number of leading companies. The firm is based in 28 key business centers across the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and its US practice is a key part of this global network.

Jacob represents clients on their most sophisticated securities offerings, corporate finance and governance matters. She counsels 84

issuers and underwriters in domestic and international financings, and represents clients of all types in securities offerings, including initial public offerings, secondary offerings, high yield offerings, mezzanine and bridge financings, investment grade debt offerings, acquisitions financings and recapitalizations.

decades at the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, where she spent 28 years as a partner, including 11 as chair of the 500-lawyer firm. At the time, The American Lawyer named her one of the top 45 US lawyers under the age of 45 for her work establishing and growing a capital markets practice.

She is universally recognized as one of the premier practitioners in her area of the law, receiving consistent recognition by leading attorney directories such as Chambers, The Legal 500 and IFLR. Described by clients as “a legend in the business,” Valerie was named “Finance Lawyer of the Year” at Chambers USA’s 2012 Women in Law Awards. She is also a member of The Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only membership organization of the world's most successful women business leaders. Prior to joining Freshfields, Jacob practiced for

Jacob has also set herself apart as a leader in the community. Outside of the office, she devotes time as founder and director of Metropolitan Oval, an organization affiliated with the US Soccer Federation offering youths of all backgrounds the opportunity to play soccer, in addition to being a mother of three and grandmother of one.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

She holds a JD from Cornell Law School and a BS from Boston University. PDJ

VICTORIA JANDREAU

Director of GROWTTH, North America FREUDENBERG-NOK SEALING TECHNOLOGIES

Company: Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Industry: Manufacturing CEO: Mathew Portu Employees: 4,500 Headquarters: Plymouth, Michigan

LEAN STRATEGIES IMPACTING THE BOTTOM LINE Vicky Jandreau is the foundation of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma efforts at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. As director of its GROWTTH (Get Rid of Waste Through Team Harmony) program, she develops strategies that successfully impact the company’s bottom line.

Her colleagues say she is a powerhouse when it comes to lean manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives. She is the first woman to lead Freudenberg-NOK’s program at its 20 manufacturing facilities spanning Canada, Mexico, and the United States. She has created workshops and targeted training programs that are saving the company about $15 million annually.

Most recently her focus has been on creating a comprehensive agenda of best practices that support rapid implementation and refinement of lean tools. The company is a leading specialist in innovative sealing

applications across a wide variety of industries, including auto, civil aviation, ship construction, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and construction equipment. It is a partnership between Freudenberg & Co in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan.

Jandreau is committed to expanding and perfecting Freudenberg-NOK’s lean and Six Sigma cultures – critical elements in a company that manufactures more than five billion seals and gaskets annually for everything from cars to toothbrushes.

Jandreau has been with Freudenberg-NOK for 24 years, and spent the last 18 implementing lean systems across the organization.

Her colleagues say she has set a leadership example for young female engineers within the organization.

Her dynamic, enthusiastic approach to all things lean has resulted in more

candidates enrolling in lean and Six Sigma programs that are eliminating waste and saving money.

Jandreau’s passion rests upon her personal manufacturing experience and her insistence in promoting an open, collaborative environment that optimizes a progressive learning culture. She is unwavering in her push to build organizational commitment to a lean corporate value system. She says she knew this was the perfect career for her as she holds a strong conviction that status quo is not adequate and there is always a better way.

She holds a degree in mechanical engineering technology from MHTI and is in the process of obtaining a BS in business management at GSCs. Words she lives by are “strive for greatness in everything you do.” PDJ

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BONNIE CRATER

PRESIDENT AND CEO FULL CIRCLE INSIGHTS

Company: Full Circle Insights Industry: Software CEO: Bonnie Crater Employees: 35 Headquarters: San Mateo, California

INNOVATIVE MARKETING PERFORMANCE EXPERT Bonnie Crater’s decades of success in Silicon Valley are a testament to her business acumen, drive for innovation, and leadership skills.

As president and CEO of Full Circle Insights, she helps companies optimize their sales data and innovate their CRM efforts. The company assists clients in learning how their marketing campaigns influence pipeline and revenue, obtain metrics across sales and marketing platforms and ensure their marketing data is rock solid. Earlier this year, it released Campaign Attribution, a groundbreaking analytics solution that measures campaign performance and marketing impact on revenue.

Crater’s colleagues say she’s a thought leader and innovator, using her position and networking abilities to advocate for diversity and champion opportunities for women in the technology sector. She has built a unique company culture that 86

prioritizes the team and emphasizes work-life balance. She’s also committed to making a difference through charitable endeavors, while still finding time to excel in athletics, including tennis and polo.

Prior to founding Full Circle Insights, Crater was a five-time vice president of marketing and an executive at some of the best known software companies in the world, including salesforce.com, Oracle Corporation, Netscape and Genesys, as well as several other Silicon Valley start-ups. A ten-year veteran of Oracle and its various subsidiaries, Crater served as vice president of its Compaq Products Division and also vice president of its Workgroup Products Division.

Crater has been named among the 100 Most Influential Women by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for multiple years. Among her many

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

other accolades, The Sales Lead Management Association has also named her one of the 20 Women to Watch in sales lead management.

A strong believer in equal opportunity and corporate social responsibility, Crater was a key participant in the 2015 Women Investor Summit. She has challenged her peers to interview women for senior level positions by pledging to uphold a requirement that companies interview women for open senior level positions, which is modeled on the NFL’s Rooney Rule.

She serves on the board and chairs the Science Committee at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, an organization she co-founded seeking a cure for Lyme disease. Crater holds a BA in biology from Princeton University. Words she lives by are “family first, job second, hobby third.

But you have to do all three.” PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Garden City Group, LLC (GCG) Legal Kenneth Cutshaw 600 Lake Success, New York

CHRISTI CANNON

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT GARDEN CITY GROUP, LLC

TAKING BUSINESS STRATEGIES TO NEW LEVELS Colleagues of Christi Cannon, Raised in a family of attorneys, quality a woman leader should have Senior Vice President, Marketing and Development, of Garden City Group (GCG), describe her as “the dynamic force taking GCG’s marketing and business development strategy to the next level.”

This former litigator, who joined GCG in 2007, leverages her understanding of clients’ needs to develop successful, long-term partnerships. She serves on both the company’s executive and leadership teams, driving efficiencies and collaboration across all departments.

Most recently, Cannon was tasked with creating a new structure for the company’s marketing and development functions to develop a focused and measurable approach to attacking GCG’s markets. Under her direction, the teams are working together and across the organization as a whole to drive client retention and satisfaction.

Cannon knew since the fifth grade that she wanted to be a lawyer. She never envisioned any other career, graduating magna cum laude from Auburn University and receiving her law degree from Emory University.

Before joining GCG, she worked with some wonderful law firms, litigating some of the largest and most complex of class action cases.

Although she finds excitement and satisfaction in her work, Cannon, who is married and the mother of triplets, strives to maintain a healthy personal life. “When I sense that work stress is affecting my overall happiness level at home, I step away for an hour or two, or a day or two if I can, and focus on what is important to me personally - being present with my family and friends, being kind and laughing a lot,” she said.

is resilience, and she advises women to practice trusting their judgment.

“Those around you may have more experience, but experience does not always mean good judgment,” she said. “Plus, others’ advice may not work well for you. In the long run, you have to make and stand behind your own decisions.”

Cannon also encourages women to develop strong networking and business development skills. “Make developing those skills your absolute priority from day one – they will be yours and yours alone through the twists and turns and blind curves that can arise during your career.” PDJ

Cannon says the most important Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: GE Industry: Digital Industrial CEO: Jeff Immelt Employees: 335,000 Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

LINDA BOFF

VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER GE

INNOVATIVE MARKETER DIRECTING GE’S DIGITAL INITIATIVES

A

s an innovative and forwardingthinking marketer, Linda Boff is accountable for the successful impact of the marketing strategy around GE’s transformation to a digital industrial company.

Her colleagues say she is not afraid to try something new. They say she works with the passion and mindset of a start-up and as a result her team introduces effective campaigns across multiple channels.

With GE being one of the most recognized names and marketing success stories in the B2B sector, the 124-year-old company embarks on its vast history of telling its story.

As GE’s Chief Marketing Officer, Boff leads customer experience, marketing and branding for the company to intensify commercial and consumer impact. She’s known for deviating from a pure corporate 88

stance and focusing more on the human element of the company, showing up on social media just as people would. The focus is the transformation of industry by connecting the physical and the digital.

In her role, she is focused on GE’s transformation, leading industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive.

One ad campaign, titled 'What's the matter with Owen?' features the self-deprecating Owen who tries to explain to his parents, and disinterested friends what he does at GE. The campaign resulted in a highly successful recruitment campaign for GE, and the Owen videos successfully reinforced GE's position as a digital industrial company while recruiting young people as industrial Internet developers.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

She joined GE in early 2004 with 18 years of experience in marketing, advertising and communications including senior roles at NBC’s iVillage, Citigroup, and the American Museum of Natural History.

She is on the Board of Partnership with Children, a New York City organization providing social support to 5,000 hard-to-reach school children. She also sits on the Ad Council’s Executive Committee and is a member of Marketing 50. Boff lives by the words “presume good intent.”

Boff holds a BA in political science and psychology from Union College. She says the most important qualities a female leader should have are curiosity and resourcefulness.

“One will take you new places and the other will help once you get there,” she said. PDJ

LISA J. SMITH

METRO SOUTH REGION MANAGER GEORGIA POWER

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Georgia Power Electric Utility Paul Bowers 8,000 Atlanta, Georgia

HARD HAT AND HEELS BRING OPPORTUNITY Lisa Smith has been a leader at Southern Company electric companies for more than two decades. As Georgia Power's Metro South region manager, she’s accountable for the day-to-day operations in an area serving about 265,000 customers.

She provides leadership and expertise in technical and functional areas of the company and is responsible for managing sales, customer service, community and economic development, and external affairs. Georgia Power serves a total of 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Working in a traditionally male dominated sector, Smith’s colleagues say she’s willing to take on challenges and uses opportunities as lessons to learn and grow. Smith says being a woman in her profession has been life changing. “A hard hat and heels can be a uniform for opportunity,” she said.

Smith launched her career in the electric utility industry in the mid-

1990’s as an engineer at Mississippi Power, which is also part of the Southern Company group. Since taking on that role her expertise and adaptability have led her on a career path of increasing responsibility across various areas. Earlier this year, the company ranked first in the South Region for customer satisfaction by the J.D. Power Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Her colleagues say she’s an asset to the Southern Company family, and demonstrates the company’s motto "A Citizen Wherever We Serve," in both her personal and professional life. She said her biggest career change has been relocating. “I have learned that being willing to move is like zip lining. It may be a little uncomfortable at first, but it is a great way to gain different perspective and ultimately soar,” she said.

Passionate about employee development, she was instrumental in establishing one of Georgia Power's first employee resource

groups more than a decade ago.

Initially created to help empower African-American women at Georgia Power in leadership, networking and community service, the group now has over 500 members across Georgia, including men.

Recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, Smith serves on Clayton State University's advisory board, the board for Arts Clayton, and the Regional Business Coalition. She has served on the board for the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, Fayette Education Foundation, the Central Education Center. Enthusiastic and committed to education, she was among a group of community leaders selected to help revitalize Coweta County Georgia's Communities in Schools program.

Smith holds a BS in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. She says she lives by words her grandmother always articulated - "Do the things that I never had a chance to do." PDJ

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CAMILLE V. OTERO

DIRECTOR REAL PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT GIBBONS P.C.

Company: Gibbons P.C. Industry: Law Firm CEO: Patrick C. Dunican Jr., Chairman and Managing Director Employees: 338 Headquarters: Newark, New Jersey

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MANAGES RISK FOR CLIENTS Camille Otero’s extensive legal experience in federal and state environmental litigation has drawn her to some of the highest profile cases in New Jersey and New York.

Known for strategically managing environmental risk associated with manufacturing operations, Otero is a Director in the Real Property and The Environmental Department at Gibbons P.C. She’s been involved in high-profile cleanups and litigation relating to prominent waterways in New Jersey and New York as part of a Gibbons team representing numerous clients in matters involving the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Otero has experience in assisting clients in remediation activities and compliance, environmental due diligence in corporate and real estate 90

transactions and environmental litigation. She also represents clients in complex contract litigations involving legacy environmental liability resulting from the release of hazardous substances into the environment, and enforcement proceedings concerning permit and other alleged environmental violations, often reducing or eliminating her clients’ exposure and liability.

In representing a group of manufacturers in a 300+ party sediment contamination lawsuit, Otero was instrumental in forging a favorable settlement. She serves on various committees, including the Executive Committee, charged with developing legal strategy to advance the interests of Gibbons’ clients and those of third-party defendants in the same joint defense group.

In yet another of her cases,

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representing the world’s largest car rental service provider, she formulated strategies to avoid litigation, extricate her client from potential cleanup obligations under a lease, and avoid future obligations through a beneficial sale of the property.

Otero is a member of the Gibbons Women’s Initiative, helping develop educational programs covering various legal and business topics, plus civic, social, and cultural networking opportunities, for firm attorneys and corporate women executives.

She holds a BS from Bloomfield College and JD from Rutgers School of Law, where she was managing business editor of Computer & Technology Law Journal. She lives by the words “only a fool trips over what's behind them. Learn from the past, live in the present, and hope for the future.” PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Girl STEM Stars STEM Education for Girls of Color Kiwoba Allaire Under 100 Fremont, California

KIWOBA ALLAIRE FOUNDER AND CEO GIRL STEM STARS

INSPIRING STEM EDUCATOR DEDICATED TO HELPING UNDERSERVED YOUTH Kiwoba Allaire is an inspiring one-woman dynamo in California dedicated to helping young girls build successful futures in the tech industry.

Allaire devotes her time to helping girls of color from underserved communities improve their lives by providing them with new experiences and advancing them in STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

As founder of Girl STEM Stars, setting up a venture in an unstructured entrepreneurial Over the years, Allaire has environment has been her biggest overcome adversity in her own life career leap. She said she learned “if you have tenacity, focus and acumen - and today she is a shining example of what is possible when corporate you are already helping yourself.” executives focus on giving back to The nonprofit group is dedicated the community to improve the lives to providing the tools and space for of others. She lives by the words “let exploration and innovation with your faith be bigger than your fear.”

STEM classes, visits with prominent Allaire is also director at the community and global leaders, also California tech marketing company tech worksite visits. It incorporates Rocket Fuel and founder of its Rocket the arts and humanities to further Fuel Gives Back Program. She sits on support the STEAM focus and highlight its increasing importance in local nonprofit boards of United Way, the Sheriffs Activities League, the a global society.

Family Network, Ronnie Lott’s, and All Stars Helping Kids.

Among her many accolades, earlier this year Allaire was named among the top 50 Multicultural Leaders in Technology by the California Diversity Council, and is also the recipient of the Sistahs Rock, Beyond the Limits Award. Last year she was voted San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Woman 2015 and this year Forever Influential Woman 2016. PDJ

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We’re committed to helping people on their path to better health.

To honor this commitment, CVS Health is building a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. It’s simple: we believe that when we truly reflect our customers, we can better serve them. That’s why we’re inviting you to explore a world of careers in everything from pharmacy to retail where your unique skills, talents and abilities are welcome. Join us in helping people on their path to better health.

cvshealth.com/diversity

SANDRA NIELSEN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SALES MARKETING AND HUMAN RESOURCES GREAT BASIN SCIENTIFIC, INC.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Great Basin Scientific, Inc. Healthcare Ryan Ashton 188 Salt Lake City, Utah

BEING FEARLESS KEY TO SUCCESS S

andra Nielsen’s career advice to others is to be fearless. “Be fearless about speaking up, calling out something you know isn’t right, and asking questions,” she said.

As senior vice president of sales, marketing and HR at Great Basin Scientific, Inc., she says her biggest career leap was taking leadership over of the sales organization at Great Basin ahead of its IPO. “You don’t have to be the expert, but you have to boldly ask questions, listen, then act bravely on the information you have.

And adapt on the fly," Nielsen said.

Her fearlessness with the molecular diagnostics company has generated results. Under her leadership, the company nearly tripled its customer base and successfully launched a variety of new products. During

the period from September 20142015 alone, Great Basin’s sales cycle successfully went from 45 days to 16 days, the sales funnel increased 143 percent, a customer base grew 78 percent, and the customer win rate increased from 75 to 91 percent.

Nielsen’s successes recently earned her a Utah Business Magazine’s Sales and Marketer of the Year award.

Nielsen says adaptability is key to success. “Your life, career, opportunities, and your day can’t necessarily be mapped out ahead of time; so you have to adapt to new circumstances and information and be prepared to seize unexpected opportunities,” she said.

She supports Great Basin’s employees through the Better Place to Work initiative. Under her leadership,

it has established generous maternity/ paternity leave, fully paid health insurance premiums for employees, $15 per hour corporate minimum wage, and a liberal paid time off policy.

She joined Great Basin as vice president of marketing in 2010, then ultimately accepted leadership over the customer support and human resource functions prior to being appointed vice president of sales.

Today, Nielsen continues to be a key contributor, including product development, corporate branding, and establishing HR policies and procedures. Nielsen lives by the words, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” PDJ

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CONGRATULATIONS TO DOROTHY “DEE DEE” HELFENSTEIN 2016 WOMAN WORTH WATCHING At Booz Allen, we turn imagination into impact.

We grow and innovate together with corporate and government leaders, combining exper tise and ingenuity to help clients achieve their goals.

Our solutions inspire new ways of thinking and create unheard of possibilities for the future. www.boozallen.com

ANNAPOORNI “ANNA” SANKARAN SHAREHOLDER GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP

Company: Greenberg Traurig LLP Industry: Law CEO: Brian Duffy Employees: 3,866 Headquarters: No formal headquarters

LITIGATOR DEVOTED TO IMPROVING DIVERSITY Annapoorni “Anna” Sankaran is a talented commercial and bankruptcy litigator and a successful business developer who works tirelessly to improve diversity across the legal profession.

Sankaran knew she wanted to become a lawyer in the eighth grade.

Surprisingly, her passion for math led her to love law. “Like math, tacking a legal problem requires similar intellectual rigor and keen strategy, which I relish,” she said. “Solutions come from working with a team.

I enjoy the collaborative nature of practicing law; working with talented bright people raises my game.”

Sankaran is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT), where she’s spent the past 15 years. She joined the Boston office in 2001 as an associate and in 2006 became the first South Asian woman to be named partner at a major Boston law firm.

Sankaran is the first South Asian member of the board of directors of the State Bar of Texas. She has been a leader in local minority bar organizations and has served as president of the national South Asian Bar Association, whose Greater Boston unit established the annual Annapoorni R. Sankaran Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service. For Sankaran, mentoring is

a personal and one-on-one way to make a difference.

She currently serves as mentor for a number of associates in the firm and says being a woman in the legal profession has been inspiring and rewarding. “Not only have I had the opportunity to learn from accomplished women who achieved before me, but I also have the opportunity to make a difference for someone else,” Sankaran said.

Sankaran volunteers at programs for the homeless, Dress for Success, the Houston Urban Debate Leagues and Suites for Seniors. She received a BA from Boston University and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. PDJ

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Company: Harman International Industries Industry: Technology CEO: Dinesh Paliwal Employees: 29,000 Headquarters: Stamford, Connecticut

JESSICA GARVEY

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER HEADPHONES AND WEARABLES HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES

TECHNOLOGY EXPERT BUILDING A GROWING BUSINESS SEGMENT IN CHINA Jessica Garvey says being a woman in the technology industry is exciting. Part of her job is to ask questions challenging how consumers will use complex technology in products offered in the future.

As vice president and general manager of headphones and wearables at Harman International Industries, Garvey manages a 15-member global product marketing team. In the past decade, she’s propelled as a finance manager at the company’s headquarters in Connecticut to her current role in Shenzhen, China, where she’s accountable for building a growing business unit.

She describes her current role as her biggest career leap. “Deep end 96

assignments are always manageable if you can swim,” Garvey said. “Stick to the basics you know well and always ask for help if you need it.”

who you are regardless of where you operate.

As she approaches her five-year anniversary in China, Garvey says she’s learned that family, friends, and teammates keep you connected to

Network. She holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of business administration from American University. PDJ

Among her accomplishments, she led Harman’s entrance to the Garvey’s colleagues say she is well- Bluetooth portable speaker Smart respected globally for her leadership, Audio segment, which boats a best success, and for being a mentor. In in class cost structure and has her tenure with the technology giant, achieved number one global share. she has executed seven roles across Over the past four years, Garvey two countries. She’s known for being and her teams have won 200 awards extremely well rounded, embodying for innovation and design for 124 analytical as well as creative skills. She different consumer products. has been named one of the company’s To advance and promote female rising talents, participating in a high leadership, Garvey is the Shenzhen potential development program. site leader for the Harman Women’s

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Harman International Industries, Inc. Technology Dinesh Paliwal 29,000 Stamford, Connecticut

SRIPRIYA RAGHUNATHAN

VICE PRESIDENT SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE ENGINEERING HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

HARMAN’S ENGINEERING VP DRIVING SUCCESS Sripriya Raghunathan knew she wanted to be an engineer as early as elementary school when she set out to pursue a career in computer engineering.

As VP of systems and software engineering at the $7 billion Harman International Industries, Raghunathan has been developing software for American automobiles the past 14 years.

She brings a powerful mix of technical, analytical, and managerial skills to her role. As automobiles become more connected, with multiple onboard computers and hundreds of millions of lines of code, experienced software engineers are critical to the safety and security of drivers on the road. Raghunathan understands the magnitude of the responsibility involved.

Her colleagues say she leads by example, through accountability, a balance of autonomy and collaboration, communication and critical thinking, combined with a genuine desire to see her teams succeed. Raghunathan is comfortable solving complex problems and supporting and motivating others within the company. She enjoys serving as a leader to set strategy, as well as a resource for teaching, motivating, mentoring, and guiding professional development.

leader’s success is perseverance. She advises to take risks early in life and to think big. “You can achieve the most ambitious goals, if you put your mind to it,” she said.

Growing up with two sisters who are also engineers, promoting STEM is personally important to Raghunathan. Her efforts to support female empowerment were recognized during the Harman Women’s Network 2016 International Women’s Day event, where she was profiled for making a difference in the She says her biggest career leap was corporate and local communities she’s the move from a technical career path served. She holds a BS in Computer into management. “I quickly realized I Engineering from Madurai Kamaraj could still make an impact technically University, India. PDJ while grooming a team and growing as a manager,” Raghunathan said.

She believes the most important quality instrumental to a woman Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Hawthorn / PNC Family Wealth Technology Dinesh Paliwal 29,000 Stamford, Connecticut

NICOLE M. PERKINS

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MANAGING EXECUTIVE HAWTHORN / PNC FAMILY WEALTH

CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCE ARE KEYS TO SUCCESS As an executive vice president of PNC and the managing executive of Hawthorn PNC Family Wealth, Nicole Perkins is personally accountable for the fiduciary administration of over $1 billion for net worth individuals and families. She also brings a history of entrepreneurism to her role.

As the daughter of small business owners, early in life Perkins assumed responsibility for managing the family’s restaurant business located in Harlem, New York. Following law school and a career in the legal profession, Perkins launched her own successful legal practice serving highnet-worth individuals. Her colleagues say she brings self-starter character to everything she touches and a successful track record of achievement.

Today, Perkins is virtually unequalled as one of the few woman setting the business strategy and overseeing a leading organization serving individuals and families with investable assets of over $20 million.

The company administers about $43.8 billion in assets.

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Perkins says the key to success is to be authentic and resilient. “You must bring your authentic self every day.

You will make mistakes,” she said.

“People will doubt your decisions, you will doubt your decisions; but you have to bounce back right away and keep going. Otherwise, you’ll never move forward and gain the confidence to trust in your own decisions and who you are,” she added.

Earlier in her career, Perkins served as the market director of Fiduciary Services in the Philadelphia and Delaware market.

She was accountable for managing the fiduciary business segment of Hawthorn as well as ensuring the quality and consistency of the client service experience. She was also responsible for the oversight of the compliance and risk management functions of those markets.

Perkins says confidence is the most important quality a woman leader should have. “You can be confident in your worth and leadership and still be collaborative and inclusive,” she said.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Perkins has long embraced the PNC corporate value of community commitment, currently serving on the board of First Person Arts. Among her many accolades, she was recently recognized among the Top 50 Most Influential Woman in Private Wealth.

She has served as president of the Starr Garden Recreation Volunteer Association, which she founded in 2004 to help revitalize the nation’s first municipal park. Perkins is a past president of the board of trustees of Independence Charter School and served on the board of directors of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and on the board of directors of Education Voters PA. Perkins lives by the words, “just do it.” She holds a BA in communications from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. PDJ

KENYA WOODRUFF

PARTNER HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Company: Haynes and Boone, LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Tim Powers Employees: 1,100 Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

LAWYER WITH PASSION FOR HEALTHCARE Attorney Kenya Woodruff is passionate about helping others. As a partner in an international law firm, she dedicates her professional career to healthcare and her civic endeavors to mentoring the next generation.

Woodruff is a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP, where she’s chair of the firms’ Healthcare Practice Group. Her practice entails healthcare regulatory counsel and the design and execution of related merger, acquisition, and joint venture partnerships.

Woodruff says she found her niche area after discovering a need to focus on legal areas where she had a substantial impact on the lives of others. “As I learned about the manner in which healthcare transactions and regulatory compliance affected the delivery of healthcare to our communities, I knew it was for me,” she said.

Her legal career centers around creating and maintaining compliant healthcare operations and structures for physicians, hospitals, home health and hospice providers, including accountable care organizations and the proper utilization of nonprofit health organizations. Her practice also includes advice on compliance with HIPAA/HITECH, and other fraud and abuse laws.

chair of the Health Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, and co-chair for the Dallas Bar Association's Law in the Schools Committee.

Woodruff chairs the firms’ Diversity and Inclusion Committee, where she oversees the recruitment, retention, promotion, and development of diverse attorneys. Her colleagues say she takes the initiative one step further in guiding diverse young students and professionals in career and college planning.

Her numerous accolades include being recognized by Chambers USA in Healthcare and by D Magazine Best Lawyers in Healthcare. She has also been named a Texas Super Lawyer, and was appointed to serve on the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners for two six-year terms.

Woodruff holds a J.D. from Duke University and a BA from Emory University. PDJ

She is an active board member with The Health Industry Council Foundation and also with AIDS Arms, Inc. She has also served as

Prior to joining Haynes and Boone, Woodruff served as deputy general counsel at the Parkland Health and Hospital System, where she was responsible for government investigations and legal support for the hospital’s daily operations.

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

HD Supply, Inc. Industrial Distribution Joe DeAngelo 14,000 Atlanta, Georgia

SUSAN V. STUCKER

VICE PRESIDENT - LEGAL HD SUPPLY, INC.

LAWYER PAVING POSITIVE PATH FOR CHILDREN Susan Stucker is a corporate lawyer and mentor committed to opening a positive pathway for children in need in Florida. For the past three decades, she’s devoted thousands of pro bono hours to giving a voice to abused, neglected or abandoned children.

Stucker is vice president of legal - litigation, risk, and employment law at HD Supply, one of the largest industrial distributors in North America. She’s responsible for all areas of litigation, risk management, and employment law for the HD Supply enterprise.

She is an expert in her field and reduced the company’s employment litigation exponentially over her first two years with the company. She’s known for routinely providing advice 100

and guidance to aspiring lawyers and students and is devoted to pursuing excellence in the legal profession, while raising the bar for diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Stucker also serves as a court appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL) investigating solutions for the best interests of abused, neglected or abandoned children in Florida. As a GAL, she’s assisted more than 100 children in 54 cases, and volunteered over 5,000 pro bono hours on closed cases. Her colleagues say she has an innate ability of lifting up those around her without seeking recognition. They also say she inspires them with her steadfast commitment to helping those in need.

Earlier in her career, she served

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as senior counsel for Sprint and in private practice. She describes making the shift from private practice to the corporate world as her biggest career leap. “I learned the importance and beauty of teamwork,” she said.

Stucker believes integrity is the most important quality for any leader. She is a two time recipient of the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. She lives by the phrase, “be present - be in the moment. Don’t spend your life worrying about the past and the future. Focus on now.”

She holds a BA and J.D. from Florida State University and is a member of the Association of Corporate Council. PDJ

CAROLINE TSAY

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER AND GENERAL MANAGER, SOFTWARE HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE

Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Industry: Computer Software CEO: Meg Whitman Employees: 120,000 Headquarters: Palo Alto, California

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE ACCELERATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION As chief digital officer and general manager of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Software organization, Caroline Tsay is an expert at developing innovative products and services, building new customer bases, and scaling businesses through data-driven marketing and sales models.

built an organization with new talent from companies like Google, Atlassian, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Adobe. Leveraging innovative experiences, Tsay and her organization have built an entirely new web and mobile platform simplifying software purchases, changed marketing mix Tsay is a global executive known for and execution, brought discipline rapidly building successful businesses to using data to drive decisions, and implemented a highly responsive for top technology companies. sales model.

Particularly those involving new business models, consumer and enterprise technology, and datadriven digital marketing. Within a short period of time, Tsay created a new line of business, brought in new customers, and generated a new pipeline of revenue at HPE. She joined HPE in 2013, and

Tsay joined HPE after six years of product leadership as a Senior Director of Search and E-Commerce at Yahoo!, where she launched consumer innovations that drove 500 million daily visits and $3.5 billion in revenue. Prior to Yahoo!, she spent three years at IBM as a senior consultant focused on providing

supply chain solutions to clients in the retail, high tech, and travel industries.

Tsay serves on the Board of Directors for Rosetta Stone and Travelzoo. She participates in the venture community as a mentor to founders of enterprise focused startups selected by The Alchemist Accelerator. She also has a passion for mentoring women pursuing technology focused careers. She holds a BS in computer science and MS in management science and engineering from Stanford University.

Among her many accolades, Tsay has been recognized as The National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology and Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP Legal N/A 68 New York, New York

DORIT UNGAR BLACK

FOUNDING PARTNER HOLWELL SHUSTER & GOLDBERG LLP

SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR TRAILBLAZING ATTORNEY

Attorney and Israeli-Austrian immigrant Dorit Ungar Black says her biggest career leap was moving to the United States and reinventing herself as a litigator in a foreign country with a different legal tradition and a language that wasn’t her first.

refused to let language, gender, or other barriers get in the way of her trailblazing legal career. Black’s leadership has been instrumental in earning the firm various accolades, including Benchmark Litigation’s New York Law Firm of the Year.

She believes the most important “The experience taught me that you quality a woman leader should have can do almost anything you set your mind to and that the sky is the limit,” is the courage to stand up for what is right and to speak out against what Black said. is wrong. “Don’t doubt yourself,” She was just 35 when she cofounded Holwell Shuster & Goldberg she said. This belief is manifested in the clients she has represented, LLP four years ago. Today, it’s a including the heirs to the Herzog leading commercial litigation firm Collection, the largest private art with about 50 attorneys. From the collection in Hungary prior to World outset, she was a natural with the War II. The ongoing legal action elite boutique firm in New York, having emerged as a top litigator and against the Hungarian government and its state-owned museums and arbitration specialist, representing instrumentalities seeks the return of clients like Comcast Corporation, over 40 pieces of art valued at about Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and $100 million. The case resonated with Duane Reade.

Black, the daughter of a Hungarian Her colleagues say she has Holocaust survivor.

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For the last seven years, she has managed a $120 million lawsuit by a Canadian toy manufacturer against her client, a testing laboratory. The plaintiff distributed Aqua Dots, a now-recalled craft product that, when ingested, metabolizes into the socalled “date rape drug.” In her diverse practice, she has also represented Turkish conglomerate Çukurova Holding in its successful attempt to reverse the confirmation by a New York federal court of a $932 million arbitration award; a hedge fund in a dispute with a German subsidiary of Lehman Brothers over a $100 million repo-agreement; as well as a dispute involving German gun manufacturer Heckler & Koch over a €100 million PIK loan.

Outside of the office, Black is a devoted mother of two. She holds a Magistra Iuris from the University of Vienna Law School and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School. PDJ

BLAIR EDEN KAMINSKY

ASSOCIATE HOLWELL SHUSTER & GOLDBERG LLP

Company: Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP Industry: Legal CEO: N/A Employees: 68 Headquarters: New York, New York

LITIGATOR ESTABLISHES HERSELF IN NEW YORK MARKET Blair Kaminsky knew being an attorney was her passion when she argued in court for the first time. “I always knew I would love the writing part of my job as a commercial litigator, but was not as sure about the oral advocacy component,” Kaminsky said. “I still have a lot to learn, but I now know I enjoy that piece too.”

graduation from Harvard Law School, where she was supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review and Alan Dershowitz’s teaching assistant, she has established herself as a leader among New York litigators.

Following a federal appellate clerkship, she initially worked with another firm litigating high Kaminsky joined Holwell Shuster profile cases in the financial market; & Goldberg LLP (HSG) in 2013 as including representing a major an associate, and has represented financial institution in litigation multiple clients with founding partner involving the Lehman Brothers Michael Shuster including HSBC and bankruptcy, and NYSE-Euronext in U.S. Bank. Her colleagues say she litigation over a contemplated $10 is brilliant, tough, ferociously hard billion merger that would working, and a collegial lawyer. They have created the world’s largest describe her as a born leader, highly stock market. popular with her contemporaries, “It’s amazing how much I have who has successfully contributed to learned by trying out work in the firm. different specialties, like joining a Eight years removed from her

new case at the eleventh hour and

finding that as much had already been done, I could still make a meaningful contribution,” she said.

Kaminsky describes her shift to the firm as her biggest career leap. “I still get to practice law at a very high level and work with incredibly talented colleagues and clients, but with the added bonus of helping build our now four-year-old firm from the ground up,” she said.

Kaminsky has led the design of the firm’s in-house training program and says the most important quality a woman leader should have is selfconfidence. “Everything else flows from that,” she said. Kaminsky lives by the words “work hard and play hard.”

She holds a B.A from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Honeywell Industrial Manufacturer Dave Cote 129,000 Morris Plains, New Jersey

REBECCA LIEBERT

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER HONEYWELL UOP HONEYWELL

ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER LEADING HONEYWELL UOP Rebecca Liebert is an accomplished leader whose career is punctuated with paradigm-changing advancements in the organizations she has led. Earlier this year, she was named president and CEO of Honeywell UOP, a $3 billion business that is the world’s leading developer of technology for the oil and gas industries.

developed and executed initiatives driving revenue growth and profits in virtually every position she has held.

Her colleagues say she’s a confident leader, and a successful engineer who puts her full effort into everything she does.

Liebert has risen through the ranks since joining Honeywell in 2006. She served as vice president and general Liebert said growing up on her manager for Honeywell’s Electronic family’s farm in Kentucky prepared Materials business. After that, she her for a career in engineering. was vice president of Honeywell “There was chemical engineering UOP’s Gas Processing and Hydrogen in managing the crops, mechanical business. Then, vice president and engineering in maintaining the general manager of Honeywell UOP’s equipment, electrical engineering in Catalysts, Adsorbents and Specialties powering the fences and buildings, business. “My biggest career leap was and civil engineering in managing the starting the new Gas Processing and fields,” she said.

Hydrogen business at Honeywell UOP and building it into a successful With strong women role models, enterprise,” she said.

Liebert translated a successful academic career into a progression of business leadership roles. She has

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She describes being a woman in a traditionally male profession as

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empowering. “I’ve seen my handson, roll-up your sleeves, get-it-done approach open doors, generate confidence, build new relationships and close deals. That personal touch means more than people think,” she said.

Professionally, she lives by the words “know the industry better than the competition, and the customers better than they know themselves.”

Personally, she says, “it starts with you. Be yourself, be true to yourself, and take care of yourself.”

Liebert holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky, a doctorate in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. PDJ

Distinguished Performance

The approximately 130,000 employees of Honeywell are proud to be part of a Company that’s making our world safer and more secure, more comfortable and energy efficient, and more innovative and productive. And we’re proud when our employees, customers, partners, and friends are recognized for being the best at what they do and for the examples they set for others.

Honeywell congratulates Rebecca Liebert, President and CEO of Honeywell UOP, and all of the Women Worth Watching award winners, for their leadership and achievements in their businesses and their communities.

© 2016 Honeywell International. All rights reserved.

Being good at life.

That deserves a little credit.

New York Life congratulates Kelli Parsons and all of the winners of the 2016 Women Worth Watching Award.

Kelli leads by example and is an inspirational force that helps us achieve breakthrough thinking in all that we do.

To learn more, visit newyorklife.com. © 2016 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY

Insure. Invest. Retire.

Be good at life.

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TRACY KEOGH

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER HP INC.

Company: HP Inc. Industry: Technology CEO: Dion Weisler Employees: 50,000 Headquarters: Palo Alto, California

GLOBAL PEOPLE PERSON DRIVING CHANGE AT HP As chief human resources officer at HP Inc., Tracy Keogh found her passion for people during a business rotation that included the opportunity to run operations, sales and marketing, and human resources.

“Being in HR made me appreciate how employees/people are the most important aspect of the organization,” Keogh said. “The ability to apply my business background to a function that has such a meaningful impact on business was rewarding and motivating.”

Last year, HP undertook one of the fastest and most complex company separations in history. Keogh played a critical role in setting up both HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, while overseeing all people aspects of the separation. It involved separation decisions for more than 200,000 employees in 170 countries, hundreds of benefits vendors, programs, and 106

every human resources system, policy resources processes and information and procedure. management, as well as employee communications. “I learned quickly Keogh was also instrumental in driving a board identification process that I thrive when I have the opportunity to lead and drive change,” for both companies and achieved she said. her goal of building one of the most diverse boards in the tech industry.

The HP Inc. board is 38 percent women and 46 percent minority.

She says that being a woman at a technology company in Silicon Valley has been a tremendous opportunity to drive change. “It is overwhelmingly rewarding to be in a position where I can take action and help reinvent the standard for diversity in tech,” she said.

Keogh has worldwide responsibility for HP Inc.’s strategic human resources activities, including workforce development and organization effectiveness, benefits and compensation, staffing, global inclusion and diversity, human

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Along with her human resources background, Keogh has a wide range of leadership experience in operations, sales, marketing, and consulting for a number of organizations.

Last year, Human Resources Executive Magazine named her as one of the Most Powerful Women and later that year, the HR Executive of the Year. Keogh has been selected by her peers for induction into the National Academy of Human Resources.

Keogh holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BS in psychology from Smith College. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO:

Employees: Headquarters:

Hudson Allergy Healthcare Dr. Julie Kuriakose and Dr. Timothy Mainardi 12 New York City, New York

JULIE KURIAKOSE

COFOUNDER AND PHYSICIAN HUDSON ALLERGY

PHYSICIAN, ENTREPRENEUR AND FASHIONISTA Dr. Julie Kuriakose didn’t take the traditional route after medical school.

“My biggest career leap, and what I learned from it, was starting my own practice right after fellowship,” said Kuriakose. “As a med student, resident, and fellow, my expectation was to join another practice and continue on that career trajectory. By successfully starting my own practice I learned to believe in myself and value my own skills as a physician and entrepreneur.”

including doctors and nurses. Hudson Allergy is poised to expand nationally, with aspiration of offices in other metropolitan cities by 2020.

Kuriakose, who grew up suffering from allergies, has created an environment where patients receive elevated care in a comfortable setting, and leave with an improved quality of life.

A staunch advocate of food allergy awareness, Kuriakose not only directly treats patients who suffer In 2012, that entrepreneurial spirit from various allergic diseases, she led Kuriakose to co-found Hudson also educates the community at large.

Allergy with Columbia fellow Dr. Tim She lectures to culinary organizations, Mainardi. The practice now boasts educating food service operators four years of consecutive growth, on the increased prevalence of food opening a second location along 5th allergy reactions and how they must Avenue in New York last year. respond and consider food allergy safety.

As research shows, allergies are becoming more common, and the Kuriakose is also concerned with demand for allergy treatment is how environmental air pollution increasing. Kuriakose is capitalizing affects asthma. She was in medical on that reality, employing a full staff, school when she realized she wanted

to contribute to the solution. “I wanted to work with people who struggle with harmful effects from the environment and help them improve their quality of life,” she said.

Kuriakose studied Allergy, Immunology and Internal Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She pursued further studies at Rutgers University, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After medical school she earned the opportunity to become a fellow at Columbia University.

Kuriakose said she makes sure to find time for pursuits away from work. A friend refers to Kuriakose as a “closet fashionista,” adding that the doctor frequents New York Fashion Week runway shows and is always dressed to impress.

Hudson Allergy’s office designs are also distinctly inspired by her modern chic aesthetic. PDJ

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NITI KHURANA BASHAMBU CHIEF ANALYTICS OFFICER IAC APPLICATIONS

Company: IAC Applications Industry: Technology CEO: Timothy Allen and Eric Esterlis Employees: 430 Headquarters: Yonkers, New York

TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL EXEMPLIFIES STAMINA Niti Khurana Bashambu, Chief Analytics Officer at IAC Applications, provides data driven leadership across the organization, executional focus for the company, and leads a team that provides online search services to more than 48 million consumers daily.

In 2003, Bashambu joined IAC Applications as a product manager with Ask Jeeves. Her determination and ability to take on new responsibilities quickly established her upward career path.

She moved through the ranks And that is just her day job. “I of product management and data always joke that my second shift starts analytics, and into an executive when I come home in the evening,” leadership role in charge of search Bashambu said. yield, analytics, and business intelligence. She elevated search Emigrating from India at age to a product status within IAC 19, Bashambu lived with her sister Applications and succeeded in while pursuing her degree from creating a new revenue stream that Duquesne University. Even as a rapidly became 50 percent of the student, Bashambu made time to company’s revenue. give back to the community, by mentoring and tutoring young She credits her success to her people. She taught English as second willingness to “get into the weeds” to language and science as well as a analyze data and find the nuggets of college preparatory program for information that will most impact the underprivileged youth. company’s product pipeline.

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In 2010, Bashambu established the Lamorindians, an organization of 85 families that teaches young people in her Lamorinda community about their Indian heritage and culture. She organizes events for the group and maintains its membership to foster community and global citizenship.

“The most important quality a woman leader should have is mental strength and stamina,” she said.

“Strength to speak her mind, hold her ground, juggle many priorities, and stamina to multitask and work hard.

As a woman, you need to be so many things to so many people, you need to be strong and have the stamina to run a marathon every single day at home and at work,” she added. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

ICON Information Consultants, LP Professional Business Services Pamela O’Rourke 3,150 Houston, Texas

PAMELA A. O’ROURKE

PRESIDENT AND CEO ICON INFORMATION CONSULTANTS

NEVER GIVE UP In her rise to the top of the professional service industry, President and CEO of ICON Information Consultants, Pamela O’Rourke said she never took no for an answer.

“Never give up!” she said. “Once you give up, someone else will win. If you fight, you at least give yourself a chance to succeed.”

She says being a woman in the male dominated technology sector has been challenging. “The industry is a network in itself with built in obstacles, but I have found you have to put your time in and it will pay off. People take me seriously in the IT realm because I have hands on experience. I know what I am talking about because I have been in the server room, I have cabled wire, coded and programed,” she said.

O’Rourke pursued her MIS degree at the University of Houston, while working full time in an information technology position. She founded ICON Information Consultants with a vision to provide human capital solutions with an information technology foundation to meet client needs. This included filling highturnover and temporary positions, as well as supplementing positions during periods of higher business demands.

Since the launch of ICON Information Consultants, O’Rourke’s business has grown to over 3,150 employees and sales of $253 million, all while never experiencing a single quarter without profit. Included among ICON Consultants’ clientele roster are Shell, Waste Management, Hewlett Packard, Halliburton, CenterPoint Energy, Bank of America, and NRG, a Reliant Company.

O’Rourke’s numerous accolades include the 2016 University of She began by building a client Houston Distinguished Alumni base focusing on the Fortune 100 Award, the Ernst & Young and 500 arenas, primarily due to Entrepreneur of the Year Award, their investments in state-of-theand the WBENC WBE Star Award. art technology. She expanded and She was inducted into the WBE Hall developed ICON Consultants to of Fame in 2011 by the American provide recruitment, payroll and Institute of Diversity and Commerce. independent contractor solutions, and PDJ a specialized information technology project management group.

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KRISTIN MACMILLAN PRESIDENT IMPRINT PLUS

Company: Imprint Plus Industry: Office Products CEO: Maria Kott Employees: 60 Headquarters: Richmond, BC, Canada

MOVING FORWARD Always moving forward is the philosophy by which Kristin MacMillan, president of Imprint Plus lives. “Keep moving forward,” she said. “If you worry about the holes behind you, you will fall into the ones in front of you.”

MacMillan is accountable for successfully moving the Canadian-based company through substantial growth and change.

Since taking reigns as president, she has successfully led the office products company to $15 million in annual sales across more than 70 countries. The company is a leading manufacturer of customized, reusable name badge and signage systems.

She has spearheaded innovative software and new product launches, 110

developed overseas markets and reduced lead times to 24 hours. The company serves 21 industries and partners with several Fortune 500 companies, including Walgreen’s, Macys, Marriott, and UPS. MacMillan holds a bachelors of commerce from Laurentian University in Ontario.

what she knows now she wouldn’t have changed much with the path her career has taken. “I learned about business working in a global professional services firm servicing a wide variety of customers. I was then able to leverage that knowledge in a much smaller business,” she said.

She is a member of the Office Products Women in Leadership, a Prior to joining Imprint Plus, she non-profit professional organization was a principal with Ernst & Young in Vancouver for 13 years, during which connecting women in leadership time she received her CA designation roles in the office products industry.

Imprint Plus is a certified Women’s and began helping financial Business Enterprise, affiliated with institutions with assurance services.

WEConnect Canada and the Women’s For the past decade, MacMillan Business Enterprise National Council and her two partners, Marla Kott in the U.S. PDJ and Ellen Flanders, have consistently ranked high on PROFIT/Chatelaine’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in Canada. She said that even knowing

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Integra LifeSciences Corporation Medical Device Peter Arduini 3,500 Plainsboro, New Jersey

ABIGAIL EPANE-OSUALA

HUMAN RESOURCES LEADER INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

EMPOWERING EXECUTIVES FOR SUCCESS As a human resources executive for the global medical technology company Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Abigail Epane-Osuala didn’t plan a career in HR. “I got into HR by accident and not by design,” she said. “When I conducted my first layoff and ensured fairness in the selection process, I quickly realized that compassion and care had a major impact on people’s lives. I knew then that working on a people platform agenda was my calling.”

Today, she successfully empowers chief executives to achieve higher levels of organizational effectiveness through improved team functioning and employee engagement. The company is a worldwide recognized leader in specialty surgical solutions, regenerative technologies and extremity solutions with revenues of nearly $883 million last year.

She has redesigned key process and optimization initiatives, launched strategy and talent reviews and board-related talent management

initiatives, redesigned compensation plans, designed and implemented leadership and management learning curriculums, launched global recognition programs, and introduced diversity and inclusion initiatives.

As a Six Sigma Black Belt, Epane-Osuala’s most notable accomplishments include initiating, revitalizing and upgrading organizational programs that bring added value to large, global and growing businesses. Her contributions to Integra LifeSciences and to her community have not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. They say she is known as an ambassador of organizational progress, culture, diversity, and inclusion and her input has helped businesses propel to the next level of growth and opportunity.

Epane-Osuala is Cameroonian American who regularly contributes to the advancement of women executives and internationals in her community through local, national and international organizations.

Her many accomplishments include serving as Chairman of the Board for the Downtown West Orange Business Alliance, a board member of the Aquinas Academy, as well as previous board member of the Girl Scouts of Bergen County. She is an active member of the National Association for Female Executives, National Society for Human Resource Management, American Society for Training and Development and National Black MBA. Epane-Osuala holds a BS in management from Seton Hall University and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

She describes being a woman in the human resource profession as an amazing journey. “I am grounded by my Cameroonian/ Nigerian values of knowing myself and not being concerned with others shortcomings or analysis of who I am or who I am supposed to be,” she said. PDJ

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MARJORIE A. MCKEITHEN PARTNER JONES WALKER LLP

Company: Jones Walker LLP Industry: Legal CEO: William H. Hines Employees: 727 Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana

LEGACY OF LAW AND PUBLIC SERVICE On career day, sixth-grader Marjorie McKeithen took her grandfather’s briefcase to school and told her classmates that she was going to be a lawyer with him when she grew up. “I really never considered anything else,” McKeithen said.

Today, she’s a partner at one of the largest law firms in the United States, Jones Walker LLP. She has embraced and expanded a family legacy of public service and commitment to the community, while blazing her own trail of professional and personal success.

Her colleagues describe her as a dedicated, innovative public servant, a voice of reason in times of crisis, and a bridge builder who has helped public officials, corporations, trade associations, environmental groups, and concerned citizens find common ground and achieve shared goals.

“As state officeholders, my father and grandfather were known for their ability to reach across political 112

divisions,” she said. “From them, I learned that public service is a high calling and that working together can achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. Above all, I was never told that being a woman would stand in the way of pursuing and achieving my goals.”

A graduate of Louisiana State University with a BS in petroleum land management and a law degree, she built a successful litigation practice before turning her attention to the Gulf Coast energy industry.

She co-chairs the firm’s Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Team.

McKeithen was appointed back in 2006 to serve as an Assistant Secretary at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and as Secretary for the Louisiana Mineral Board during the Haynesville Shale boom, the largest mineral leasing volume in the state’s history. In that capacity, she played a major role in bringing new

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

investments to the state. Shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she helped facilitate initiatives to bring together state government, federal regulators, and business leaders, resulting in a path to safely lift the post-spill federal moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

McKeithen serves as an appointed member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, on the board of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, and the boards of the Council for A Better Louisiana and the Louisiana Nature Conservancy.

From her deep involvement in the Katrina Krewe neighborhood cleanup movement, to helping the Women of the Storm organization ensure funding for coastal restoration, McKeithen is a tireless advocate for the disadvantaged, underserved, and unrecognized. PDJ

PERSEVERANCE AND TENACITY

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Juniper Networks Networking Rami Rahim 9,000 Sunnyvale, California

When Lisa Guess needs to focus on a project she throws herself into it. “I block time on my calendar, put aside my phone, decide on a specific goal for that time and dive in,” she said.

It is that perseverance and tenacity that makes Guess valuable to Juniper Networks. As vice president of systems engineering for the $4.6 billion networking technology company, Guess works in an environment of creating innovative technologies to help customers connect ideas, compete and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Guess was instrumental in Juniper’s earlier technology transition from hardware-based networking solutions to virtualized software oriented solutions. Her colleagues describe her as a selfless leader who works diligently to develop and mentor her engineering team.

Guess is also credited with bringing a more diverse talent pool to Juniper with an internship program to help augment skills transformation with digital natives with software expertise. As a female engineer, she encourages young women to pursue bold aspirations and challenge the status quo. Her ongoing support to hiring more women in technology is making a meaningful difference at the company.

LISA GUESS

VICE PRESIDENT, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING JUNIPER NETWORKS

Guess said that being a woman in her profession has meant “learning how to accomplish things in my own style.” She says clarity of purpose, and a conviction to carry it out are the most important qualities a woman leader can have. “Be visible in your mission,” she said.

She lives by the words fairness, honesty, integrity, and says courage to do the right thing is imperative to success. PDJ Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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LINDA KORNFELD

LOS ANGELES OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER KASOWITZ, BENSON, TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP

LEADING INSURANCE RECOVERY LITIGATOR As one of the country’s top insurance recovery litigators, Linda Kornfeld has been instrumental in some of the country’s most prominent, high stakes cases.

As Managing Partner of the Los Angeles Office of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, she is at the forefront of the fight against insurance companies for denying coverage, enabling policyholders to recover hundreds of millions of dollars.

Known for her legal expertise in headline grabbing cases over the past two decades, she said the biggest career leap for her was “stepping out from under the wings of my mentor.

I learned that I can fly.”

Kornfeld is presently leading Penn State University’s trial team in a matter of national significance in insurance recovery efforts for amounts spent responding to the Sandusky sexual misconduct claims.

Company: Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Marc E. Kasowitz Employees: 454 Headquarters: New York

In another of her headline grabbing cases, she successfully secured a summary judgement for former executives of Silverton Bank, resolving coverage issues in a $71 million lawsuit brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation litigators by Chambers USA, listed alleging breach of fiduciary duties. among Lawdragon’s top 500 leading lawyers in America, and has been Throughout her career, Kornfeld recognized five times among The has focused on women’s leadership California Daily Journal’s Top Women and career advancement. She serves as a West Coast leader of the Women’s Lawyers.

Leadership and Mentoring Alliance, Kornfeld is co-author of the treatise is co-founder of Kasowitz Women’s A Policyholder’s Primer on Insurance, Leadership Initiative, and an Advisory published by the Association of Board member for the Insurance Corporate Counsel. She holds a Coverage Law Bulletin. She is named bachelor degree from the University among the top insurance recovery 114

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of California and law degree from George Washington University.

She said she knew being an attorney was what she wanted to do since her first court hearing. “I love standing in front of the court and advocating for my clients,” she said. The words she lives by are “never forget to look up from your IPhone and see the world.” PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP Legal Marc Kasowitz 454 New York, New York

JENNIFER RECINE

PARTNER KASOWITZ, BENSON, TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP

HIGH STAKES REAL ESTATE LITIGATOR As a partner in the New York office of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, attorney Jennifer Recine is involved with high stakes disputes in real estate and hotel litigation.

them through business disputes and dissolutions. They say her skilled representation of prominent people and organizations in complex disputes earned her an early promotion to partner.

Her practice primarily focuses on litigating over the investment, development, construction, sale, and management of billions of dollars in real estate assets and infrastructure projects, with a specialty in partnership disputes and land use matters.

In one of her cases, she successfully defended a foreclosure action on behalf of distressed investors in the Miami Savoy Hotel. She has also secured sole ownership for real estate investor Eric Hadar and the Eric Hadar Family Trust of coveted Manhattan real estate development sites that were among the disputed partnerships' assets.

Recine has played a key role in high-profile matters that span multiple sectors and include private corporations, publicly traded companies, political bodies, and state and municipal governments.

Besides applying her legal acumen, her colleagues say she acts as a partner with her clients, helping

Among her ongoing caseload, she is representing former U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) César Benito Cabrera in a dispute over the potential sale of commercial property in Puerto Rico. She’s also the lead trial attorney representing the Beverly

Hills Unified School District in its ongoing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) action against the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), challenging a proposed Los Angeles subway extension. That complex land use case involves multiple constituencies, including elected members of the school board, the Beverly Hills City Council, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, as well as federal agencies.

Recine acknowledges that it takes a team to get the job done. “Give credit where credit is due,” she said.

“The work we do takes a team to execute. It never hurts to give credit to the people working for or with you. It does not diminish your contribution and people thrive when they feel appreciated.” PDJ

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DINETTE KOOLHAAS

VICE PRESIDENT AND OPERATIONS LEADER EMEA REGION KELLY SERVICES

Company: Kelly Services Industry: Workforce Solutions CEO: Carl Camden Employees: 8,100 Headquarters: Troy, Michigan

LEADING GROWTH STRATEGIES ACROSS THE EMEA REGION Based in Switzerland, Dinette Koolhaas leads operations and oversees growth strategies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for global staffing leader Kelly Services.

Under her leadership, Kelly’s EMEA operations has delivered consistent growth in sales and profits. Her colleagues said she has a reputation as a leader who positively transforms businesses with risktaking approaches to meet business goals. The Fortune 500 Company had revenues of about $5.5 billion last year and provided employment to about 550,000 people.

As vice president and operations 116

leader of the EMEA Region, Koolhaas’ work requires flexibility while working among cultural differences.

She lives by the words “our next plan, execution, and accomplishment.”

Western Europe. She says that was her biggest career leap, and it ultimately developed into oversight for the company’s operations throughout all of EMEA.

Raised in a high-energy entrepreneurial family with a positive mindset, Koolhaas learned early in her career to balance strategic thinking with a keen eye for operational detail. This has allowed her to develop strong teams, build solid customer relationships, suggest the appropriate operational course and follow through to ensure positive results.

She says being a woman in her position has been an opportunity to influence and connect with a variety of professionals and leaders. She added that the most important quality any woman leader should have is “the self-awareness to adapt natural style in new situations to improve as a professional and to grow as a person.”

Koolhaas joined Kelly Services back in 2008 to lead its operations in

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She holds a MBA and serves on the board of Eurociett. PDJ

Carmeuse North America Proudly Congratulates

Melissa Croll For being named to an outstanding field of professional women as this year’s

Women Worth Watching In her role as Vice President Human Resources and member of our Executive Management Team, Melissa is driven by a strong focus on simplicity, efficiency, and team building that has made her invaluable in helping Carmeuse, an international company, sustain its leading position in the lime and limestone manufacturing industry in North America. www.carmeusena.com

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

KeyCorp Banking Beth E. Mooney 13,000 Cleveland, Ohio

KATRINA EVANS

EVP, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE CENTER KEYCORP

BANKING EXECUTIVE ALIGNING STRATEGY As an executive officer with KeyCorp, Katrina Evans leads the teams responsible for a bank with 13,000 employees, $98.4 billion in assets, and a presence in 12 states.

Her colleagues describe her as an accomplished business leader with an indelible civic footprint. They say the quality of her work and character set the bar for her teammates.

“I have consistently sought new ways to innovate and add value in my role over the years. I look at every day and every interaction as a chance to make a difference by defining ‘team’ broadly, working hard and choosing accountability,” she said.

As executive vice president and director of Corporate Center at KeyCorp, Evans has held various senior management positions over past years. “I watched KeyBank cultivate and grow a culture of corporate responsibility, community development, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion. And I knew that I had brought my career to the right company,” she said.

Evans partners with KeyBank’s 118

CEO to create an operating rhythm for the executive leadership team and the board of directors that ensures alignment of strategy and messaging across the enterprise and stakeholder groups. Her leadership is directly responsible for Key being recognized with a variety of accolades and awards.

Evans holds a BS in business management and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. She also has a masters of banking from the American Banker Association Stonier School of Banking at Georgetown University.

Active in the community, Evans volunteers promoting college or Under her purview are all segments post-secondary education for of Key’s Corporate Responsibility, students in low to moderate income Communications and Marketing communities. She also serves on the groups including: Data, Client Boards of Trustees for CollegeNow, Insights, Corporate Communications, the Cuyahoga Community College Media Relations, Sustainability, Foundation and the Great Lakes Philanthropy, Community Science Center. Evans is also an active Development, and Diversity & mentor in the CollegeNow mentoring Inclusion. program. She is the immediate past Board Chair for the American Heart Words she lives by are in a quote

by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What lies Association and was awarded a 2015 behind us and what lies before us are YWCA Woman of Achievement nothing compared to what lies within Award. us.” Evans said the most important “Staying involved with my quality a rising business woman community helps me keep a balanced should have is confidence. “Fight the perspective on my work and the urge to ask for permission,” she said. things in life that matter most. I “Confidently, yet humbly, approach believe that my community needs my business challenges and opportunities time, talent and treasure as much as by trusting your experience, your my company does,” she said. PDJ common sense and your team.”

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Company: KPMG LLP Industry: Audit, Tax, Advisory CEO: Lynne Doughtie Employees: 29,000+ Headquarters: New York, New York

NATIONAL MANAGING PARTNER IN KPMG FASTEST GROWING BUSINESS As the national managing partner of KPMG’s Advisory practice, Tracy Benard leads approximately 10,000 partners and professionals in the company’s fastest growing business.

Benard ensures Advisory operations are aligned to achieve the corporate strategic goals and growth of KPMG’s fastest growing function.

Advisory’s focus is improving client performance, turning risk and compliance into opportunities, and developing strategies for enhancing value for leading organizations.

TRACY BENARD

NATIONAL MANAGING PARTNER, ADVISORY KPMG

Benard has 23 years of experience in providing assurance and consulting services to KPMG global clients, primarily in the financial services industry. Within that experience, she previously led Accounting Advisory Services at KPMG, achieving 75 percent total growth over a two year span. Benard said her biggest Her colleagues respect and admire career transition was from Audit her, and her staff proactively seeks her to Advisory. “I was motivated by counsel and mentorship. They say she the opportunity and challenge of leads by example and the people on helping build a new, under-developed her team want to work with and for part of our business. But I initially her. She is one of the youngest people underestimated how different ever named to her position.

the work, the teaming and the relationship building would be in my new role.”

Benard holds a BS in accounting from Lehigh University. Benard sits on the Northeast Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and is on the Advisory Board for the Accounting Department at Lehigh University.

Words she lives by are quoted from William Shakespeare: “This above all; to thine own self be true.” PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Latham & Watkins LLP Legal Bill Voge, Chair and Managing Partner 4,500+ Across the globe

SARAH RAY

PARTNER, GLOBAL CO-CHAIR OF WOMAN ENRICHING BUSINESS LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

HIGH POWERED ATTORNEY AND MENTOR As a litigation partner and firm leader in Latham & Watkins’ San Francisco office, Sarah Ray guides global corporations with complex, headline-grabbing cases to results that help shape the legal, corporate, and consumer landscape.

She has a demanding professional life at the world’s highest grossing law firm, with $2.6 billion in revenue.

She represents global corporations with complex issues that affect their multinational operations. Oracle, Toshiba, Emerson, Eaton and Apple are among the corporations that turn to Ray and her colleagues to manage their most complicated antitrust matters.

Ray’s job includes defending civil antitrust cases and competition related commercial cases, counseling and guiding through confidential government investigations, and 120

managing high-stakes international arbitration matters. She has significant experience representing technology, internet and media companies. With all the demands of her professional life, she says she manages to maintain a healthy personal life by making time for her family.

partners from around the firm. The group spearheads Latham’s strategy with regard to supporting and promoting women in business via the development of broader networks and productive professional relationships.

Ray is also global co-chair of Woman Enriching Business (WEB) and oversees the 15-member steering committee, comprising

Ray holds a BA from Duke University and law degree from the Berkeley School of Law at the University of California. PDJ

She said being a woman in the legal profession has been incredibly “Although my work is very rewarding. “I feel like we're at an demanding, it provides a lot of inflection point where younger flexibility to attend school events, take women lawyers are finding ways to great vacations and find impromptu be successful on their own terms and one-on-one time with my kids,” she in larger numbers. I believe we are at said. “It's hard to get the balance long last reaching a critical mass that right in any given week or month, is shifting the way law is practiced but especially after an intense stretch, and propping open the door for more I’ve learned to take advantage of the people of different experiences and slower periods and not just rush to backgrounds to push through,” the next thing.” she said.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

SHERROD PATCHING

VICE PRESIDENT AND OPERATIONS LEADER EMEA REGION LEADSPACE

LEADING GROWTH STRATEGIES

ACROSS THE EMEA REGION Enterprise software expert Sherrod Patching is driving B2B growth by changing the way people think about marketing. She is creating opportunities for companies to find their ideal customers through specialized success teams she built at Leadspace across the U.S. and EMEA markets.

As vice president of customer success for a leading marketing software company, she helps clients understand and engage their customers. Patching has transformed Leadspace’s customer success vision, strategy, and processes, positioning the company for data-driven customer service and satisfaction management to accelerate its midstage growth.

Leadspace is a software-as-aservice (SaaS) platform used for lead generation. Their 120-plus customers include leading B2B companies like Oracle, Microsoft, Adobe and RingCentral. The platform helps marketers drive more pipeline by finding new leads, updating existing

Company: Leadspace Industry: B2B Marketing Software CEO: Doug Bewsher Employees: 80 Headquarters: San Fransico, California

leads for accuracy and scoring them to make marketing campaigns more effective.

Patching brings a wide range of tech industry experience to Leadspace.

Earlier, she led the enterprise customer success team at BrightEdge Patching directs the company’s focus on customer business objectives, Technologies, playing a critical role in enabling them to maximum their ROI shaping how the team engaged with customers to drive business success through the demand generation and and ROI. As the North American marketing platform. As part of this, vice president for Intent HQ, she she’s instituted executive business was the lead technology evangelist reviews to track progress, launched for its U.S. debut, delivering revenue a customer advocacy program, and growth through direct sales, strategic reshaped the onboarding process alliances and partnerships. Before to improve customer satisfaction then, as the London-based director of and experience.

Customer Success & Operations, she Sherrod has 15 years of experience led the Intent HQ Beta roll out across in customer success strategy, having 10 countries for Pepsi. built multinational teams and In addition to her professional successful programs from the ground acumen and hands-on innovative up. Her colleagues say she is a master leadership, she is also an active at devising and implementing vision pro bono consultant, working and strategy in dynamic times of with Convoy of Hope and the San change for new business ventures.

Francisco-based agency St. Anthony’s They say she builds alliances and Foundation. PDJ executes her vision “with a roll-upher-sleeves style that is contagious, invigorating and highly motivating to everyone.” She lives by the words “never quit.”

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Legg Mason Global Asset Management Financial Services/Asset Management Joseph A. Sullivan 3,400 Baltimore, Maryland

URSULA SCHLIESSLER

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER LEGG MASON GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

FLYING BROADENS HORIZONS As the Chief Administrative Officer of a company that manages about $757 billion in assets at 40 locations around the world, Ursula Schliessler is the highest ranking woman at Legg Mason Global Asset Management.

She’s also a private pilot.

Schliessler oversees the firm’s technology, human resources, risk management, internal audit, real estate, and funding account departments. With over 25 years in financial services her experience spans product development and maintenance, sales strategy, regulatory, compliance and fiduciary responsibilities, and business process design and implementation.

In addition to global administration oversight, she sits on the Executive Committee and leads the firms’ Compete to Win Initiative, a lean six-sigma efficiency program. She is executive sponsor of the Legg Mason’s LGBTQ Employee Resource Group as well as of the firm’s Leadership Academy, a cohort of high-potential diverse talent.

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Outside of work, she is a pilot with a passion for aviation and encouraging other women to become private pilots. “Flying helps me maintain perspective. When I am in the air I see the environment around me through a different lens - one that broadens my horizons as every flight brings a new experience,” she said.

Her career advice to other women is “understand what motivates you, pursue your ambitions and seize opportunities when they arise. With determination, willingness to always learn something new, embrace change, hard work and focus you can succeed,” she said.

Schliessler has held several senior positions with Legg Mason or predecessor firms. Most recently, she was Head of Global Distribution Business Management, managing day to day operations and aligning strategy initiatives to support the growth of the company’s retail business.

She’s held roles with a global focus and increasing responsibility

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at Citibank and Citigroup Asset Management, in Johannesburg, Zurich, Frankfurt, Luxembourg and London. She has also served as Head of International Product Development and Management for Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

She said her biggest career leap was her first move from Citibank Johannesburg to Citibank Switzerland, via Luxembourg, as she was waiting for a Swiss work permit.

“Early on in my career this first move taught me to be resourceful, adaptable and confident that I can achieve my objectives by putting my mind to it and seeing challenges, personal and/or professional, as opportunities rather than obstacles,” Schliessler said.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics and a Masters of Commerce degree in Business Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. PDJ

ANGELA “ANGIE” HICKEY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEVENFELD PEARLSTEIN, LLC

Company: Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC Industry: Legal CEO: Robert A. Romanoff Employees: 110 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

TRANSPARENCY AT HEART OF BUSINESS OPERATION Angela Hickey oversees business operations at one of Chicago’s premier law firms, leading through a philosophy that change is driven by trust, which comes from transparency.

Over the past 17 years, Hickey has been instrumental in refining Levenfeld Pearlstein’s core values. It is encapsulated in the LP Way – the business strategy that aligns firm initiatives, processes, and systems to ensure an exceptional client experience.

Living out the value of transparency, she conducts popular ‘Ask Angie’ town-hall sessions, inviting lawyers and staff to ask questions, provide feedback, and learn about firm planning.

As the firms’ executive director, Hickey holds a seat on its most influential governing bodies, the Executive Committee and the Compensation Committee. She has used her influence there to broaden male-dominated perspectives and Her colleagues say she is dedicated systems within the firm and has put to transforming process improvement in place the LP Women’s Group.

She said the key is connecting the and creating opportunities for firm’s strategic goals to the inclusion others. Combining innovation imperative of talent at every level. and transparency, Hickey recently developed an internal dashboard that In a world where upward mobility provides key performance indicators is viewed as career development, she to practice leaders and attorneys. The has preferred to live her own motto tool ads another layer of credibility of ‘Lead where you are’, something in management of clients, groups, she has done throughout her career. and practices.

“Many women wait to be called on instead of jumping in to make a

contribution. Leaders don’t wait – they participate. I follow the mantra of asking for forgiveness instead of for permission,” she said.

“As a leader, I encourage experimentation and highlight my own failed experiments so that others may be comfortable with testing new ideas and with trying new ways of doing things,” she said.

In the community, she has overseen a strategic partnership between LP and Chicago Community Kitchens, and devoted her personal time and talents to the Girls Scout’s Camp CEO, the Board of Advisors of the Catholic Charities of Chicago, and the Advisory Board for the College of Business at Governors State University.

Hickey is a CPA and holds an MBA from DeVry University and a BS in accounting from Governors State University.. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Lincoln Financial Group Financial Services Dennis Glass 10,000 Radnor, Pennsylvania

JAMIE OHL

PRESIDENT RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN RETIREMENT Jamie Ohl is driving innovation in the retirement sector by finding better ways to help people understand how their savings translates into income so they are prepared when they retire. She’s making a difference in people’s lives.

As president of Retirement Plan Services at Lincoln Financial Group, Ohl drives positive outcomes by focusing on the customer, plan sponsors, consultants, advisors and ultimately the participant. The Fortune 500 Company manages about $223 billion in assets.

Her colleagues say her extensive knowledge of the industry and passion for helping Americans retire with dignity is unmatched. Ohl is committed to providing solutions, services and education to help plan participants retire successfully. She’s 124

focused on growing the business in Hartford Financial Services Group ways that foster growth and innovation where she spearheaded the firm’s for its customers. entry into the 403(b) market and led She is driving innovation, including the growth of its 401(k) business. Ohl also spent 11 years at AIG VALIC and the recent launch of a new mobile served as the senior vice president of participant web experience helping Institutional Markets at the firm. She is people better understand how their active within the industry, working with savings today can translate into various boards and organizations. income in retirement.

Prior to joining Lincoln last year, Ohl served as a principal at Edward Jones, responsible for leading the broker-dealer’s strategic direction and product management for its retirement business. She has served as president of Tax-Exempt Markets at VOYA Financial, Inc. (previously ING U.S., Inc.) and Wilshire Funds Management at Wilshire Associates Incorporated.

Throughout her career, she has also held leadership positions at The

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

She said her biggest career leap was running her first business in the middle of the financial crisis. “I learned how to make very difficult decisions,” she said. Words she lives by are “life is short, love who you're with and what you do.”

Ohl holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska and a BS in business management from Le Tourneau University. PDJ

PARTNERING TO BUILD INCLUSIVE CULTURES Laura Stone is adept at helping people grow, thrive, and understand their unique purpose so they can provide value and results.

As vice president of Linkage’s Inclusive Leadership Practice, Stone oversees the development of the firm’s work in Inclusive Leadership. She is known for her ability to quickly assess where an organization or leader is stuck, provide valuable insight, facilitate problem solving, and connect the system and its people to achieve results.

Company: Linkage Industry: Development CEO: Matt Norquist Employees: 70 Headquarters: Burlington, Massachusetts

At Linkage, she partners with organizations to help them build inclusive cultures for realizing each individual's unique contribution and ultimately achieving better results.

Her colleagues say her energy and enthusiasm is evident in everything she does. They describe her as passionate and highly skilled at understanding what matters most to leaders, teams, and the companies and then equipping them with the insights they need to fulfill their goals.

Stone is an expert strategist, speaker, and team facilitator, and has extensive experience working with leaders and leadership teams to drive bottom-line results. She co-developed and launched Linkage's Intensive™ on Leading Inclusively, a three-day program that helps leaders build awareness, cultivate mindfulness and modify their leadership style. Also, Laura was recently appointed to the University of Wisconsin School of Business Diversity Board of Advisors.

Prior to joining Linkage, Stone worked as a strategic leadership

LAURA STONE

VICE PRESIDENT INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP PRACTICE LINKAGE consultant and executive coach with organizations such as Harvard Business School, GE, Fidelity Investments, and Unilever. With over 25 years of consulting experience, she is adept at working with organizations of every size, from start-ups to the Fortune 100.

Stone holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, and studied International Relations and Art History at the L'Institut des Americain and the Marchutz School of Fine Arts in France, as well as

energy medicine at the Four Winds Society. She’s also a former U.S. Coast Guard 50-ton Captain and former contributing editor to HRO Today in the area of leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Words she lives by are in a Sufi passage: “Before you speak, have your words pass through three gates. At the first gate, ask yourself, is it true? At the second, ask is it necessary? At the third gate ask, is it kind?” PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

LinkedIn Corporation Technology/Internet Jeff Weiner 10,000+ Mountain View, CA

LORA BLUM

VICE PRESIDENT LEGAL-CORPORATE & ASSISTANT SECRETARY LINKEDIN

LINKEDIN CORPORATE COUNSEL MAKING DEALS HAPPEN As corporate counsel for LinkedIn, Lora Blum makes deals happen for a company that has over 450 million members on a professional networking site that’s translated into 24 languages.

Blum is a mentor to many women in the office and her colleagues say she has great perspectives on being an effective leader while maintaining Her colleagues say she’s the type a good work-life balance. She is a of person you want to see across member of Women@LinkedIn and the board table when you’re trying a mentor in the company’s G&A As vice president overseeing the to get deals done under difficult Accelerator Pilot Program, an internal corporate function at LinkedIn, circumstances. Blum manages the initiative that pairs newly hired Blum has been instrumental in the corporate legal team, including employees with a team mentor. She’s company’s growth, including taking governance and securities matters, also been a key supporter of pro the company public over five years mergers and acquisitions, and ago and spearheading its two equity international issues. She leads a highly bono efforts by the LinkedIn legal department, participating in several follow-on offerings and its $1.4 billion leveraged team and ensures projects major projects, including Justice convertible debt offering. are completed timely and efficiently, while leading with compassion and a Bus Trips, providing assistance to Microsoft announced in June it is individuals working on Deferred acquiring LinkedIn for approximately sense of humor. She lives by the words Action for Childhood Arrivals $26.2 billion in cash. The transaction “always have a vacation planned, you documentation; Housing Clinics, need something to look forward to!” is expected to close by the end of the collaborating with the Silicon Valley year.

Her successful career history Law Foundation; In-House Clinic, includes representing both issuers and providing free legal advice to nonBlum played a major role in investment banks on initial public profits; and Peninsula Food Runners, negotiating the Microsoft-LinkedIn offerings, follow-on and secondary advising non-profits in negotiating deal, and has directed all 26 of the offerings, private investments in an agreement that uses matching LinkedIn merger and acquisition public equity, 144A offerings and software to help pair shelters to food transactions, including key registered direct offerings. Prior to in the area. acquisitions of Pulse, Bright, Bizo, joining LinkedIn back in 2010, she Lynda and Connectifier. She’s also She holds a JD from UCLA and a was in private practice for over 10 led the company's international BA from the University of California, years, including serving as a partner expansion efforts on the corporate Berkeley.

PDJ in capital markets at Jones Day, and a front, including assisting with shareholder at Heller Ehrman. the formation of international 126

subsidiaries and managing securities compliance and tax structuring efforts.

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Company: LinkedIn Corporation Industry: Internet/technology CEO: Jeff Weiner Employees: 10,000+ Headquarters: Mountain View, CA

JOANNA POMYKALA

SENIOR DIRECTOR SALES PRODUCTIVITY LINKEDIN

DRIVING FORCE IN WORLD’S LARGEST BUSINESS NETWORK Joanna Pomykala has incredible drive and resilience. As senior director of sales productivity at LinkedIn, she’s a people leader who successfully forged a talented and diversified global team in the company’s largest employee group.

Pomykala is known inside the company as a strong leader equipped to handle virtually any situation.

Outside, she’s an elite-level triathlete and six time Ironman finisher. She also loves her job. “I wake up excited to do my job, work with great people, and feel like I’m having an impact in my role, my company, and the world,” Pomykala said.

her to make a significant impact as a leader. “With confidence you can tackle big audacious goals, and inspire people to trust and follow you, which are all critical to being a great leader,” she said.

She manages multiple teams that span LinkedIn business lines in sales, marketing and talent across all of its regions. Her teams specialize in data and analytics, sales systems and world-class training and development.

She straddles the line between sales and analytics, and has a natural ability to successfully translate her work in the data trenches into the world of sales.

driving change around gender bias and inequality in the workplace. The career advice she would pass along is “don’t try to map out every step of your career. You never know what opportunities will arise and they may take you in very different directions than you expected. Stay flexible and trust your gut in making big decisions along your professional journey.”

Pomykala holds a BS in engineering and product design and an MS in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. PDJ

She lives by the words “keep putting She is an executive sponsor for one foot in front of the other.”

Women @ LinkedIn (W@LI) and was also one of the founding members Her colleagues say she possesses of the GSO Women's Initiative. She a rare combination of skills that are is active in raising awareness and valuable in the workplace and equip Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

LinkedIn Corporation Technology/Internet Jeff Weiner 10,000+ Mountain View, CA

SHANNON (STUBO) BRAYTON CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS LINKEDIN

LINKEDIN EXECUTIVE DRIVING MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES As the chief marketing officer of LinkedIn, Shannon Stubo Brayton is responsible for driving the company’s worldwide marketing and communications activities.

The Silicon Valley PR veteran joined LinkedIn six years ago during a period of rapid growth for the company, where her achievements included directing the communications strategies for the company's successful IPO in 2011.

She has two decades of experience leading teams and shaping corporate narratives for some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive companies, including Yahoo!, eBay, Intuit, OpenTable and LinkedIn. She is widely recognized as a leader in both corporate communications and marketing.

Her diverse experience has 128

enabled her to successfully drive all communications strategies - from managing crisis communications and IPO roadshow decks to building global teams and producing highimpact consumer events. At LinkedIn, she oversees all aspects of global marketing, external communications, internal communications, media relations, social impact, social media and community relations.

She is an Advisory Board Member at Nextdoor.com, Sidewire and NerdWallet, and regularly mentors global communications and marketing professionals across the industry.

She said her biggest career leap was taking a job with eBay in Switzerland.

She spent two years working abroad, and it fundamentally changed her perspective on how to work in a global company. “I had to adapt

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

quickly and manage the complexities of working across Europe. It was very challenging, but certainly made me a stronger leader and person,” she said.

She says being a woman in her profession is invigorating. “There is a lot of camaraderie among women in Silicon Valley. I invest in my network and rely on them for information and support, and I help others when they need it. But I try not to focus too much on the fact that I’m a female,” she said.

Regarding leadership qualities, she says the most important quality a woman leader should have is authenticity. “Be honest with yourself and be honest with others,” she said. PDJ

Company: Lucasfilm Ltd Industry: Entertainment CEO: Kathleen Kennedy Employees: 2,000+ Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

LYNWEN BRENNAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL MANAGER LUCASFILM

DRIVING FORCE

IN ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS Lynwen Brennan is a driving force for creativity, collaboration and synergy who is leading cuttingedge endeavors at one of the world’s leading entertainment companies.

She lives by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

As general manager of Lucasfilm, Brennan creates a culture that fosters creativity, leadership, inclusion, and world-class service. She has a keen sense of community and culture coupled with a unique combination of business savvy, creative and technological instincts, and a genuine passion for people.

Lucasfilm is a division of The Walt Disney Studios, owned by The

Walt Disney Company. Home to the legendary Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, Lucasfilm is a leader in developing groundbreaking entertainment, special effects, sound design and computer animation for TV and film.

Brennan oversees its operational matters, as well as those of Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, including development and execution of business strategy and company vision. She was integral in the creation of ILMxLAB, a new division combining the talents of Lucasfilm, ILM and Skywalker Sound to break new ground in creating interactive storytelling and immersive entertainment experiences.

She has held multiple leadership

positions, knows how to manage creative talent and fully understands the intricacies of production.

“Everything is possible with effort and integrity. Always be the hardest working person on the team and always treat everyone with respect no matter who they are,” Brennan said Earlier this year, Brennan was awarded the honor of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for services supporting the visual effects industry in the UK. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. PDJ

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HEATHER R. KISSLING

PARTNER AND CHAIR BIOTECHNOLOGY MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP

FROM LABORATORY TO BIOTECH LAWYER Heather Kissling, partner and profession was a good fit. “I loved the

chair of the Biotechnology Practice at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, draws from over 15 years of experience securing biotechnology patents to develop worldwide filing and prosecution strategies that further clients’ business objectives.

Kissling collaborates with business development personnel, in-house counsel, and bench scientists to maximize protection of biotechnology innovations in a broad range of technologies. Her background in interference and opposition proceedings also benefits clients seeking advice with respect to competitor patent positions and third party challenges in the patent office. Her clients find her to be a forward-thinking advocate who shares their commitment to realizing the maximum value from their intellectual property assets.

problem-solving aspect of bench work, and found that patent practice allowed me to use similar skills to help industry leaders advance technologies that significantly improve patients’ lives,” she shared. “That leap of faith began an exciting and rewarding career, and I urge those early in their careers to be open to new opportunities. The path you envision is rarely what the universe has in store for you, embrace the detours.”

Kissling is a leading partner in “one of the best biotechnology practices in the country” as ranked

by Chambers USA. She is actively involved in the biotechnology community and committed to advancing women in the profession, serving on the Advisory Board of the Chicago chapter of Women in Bio and previously serving on the Biotechnology Industry Organization International Convention Kissling initially envisioned working in a laboratory after graduate Programming Committee. She also serves on the firm’s Professional school. Instead, she accepted a Development and Orientation position as a technical advisor at Committees, its women’s an IP boutique, unsure whether the affinity group, and mentors

Company: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Jeffrey S. Sharp Managing Partner Employees: 197 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

two female associates.

She holds a J.D. from ChicagoKent College of Law, a M.S. in biotechnology from Northwestern University and a BS in biology and liberal arts chemistry from the University of Evansville. Her graduate research experience includes residencies at Abbott Laboratories and the Lurie Cancer Center of the Northwestern University School of Medicine.

Among her many accolades, Kissling was selected to the 2014 and 2016 editions of Managing IP’s IP Stars list of the Top 250 Women in IP. Earlier this year, she was named the exclusive winner in the International Law Office Client Choice Awards’ Intellectual Property – Patents category for Illinois. She was selected for inclusion on the Illinois Rising Stars® list, featuring outstanding young attorneys in the state and was designated as an Emerging Lawyer in the 2015-2016 editions of Emerging Lawyers magazine, recognizing the top up-and-coming attorneys in Illinois. PDJ

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Heather R. Kissling Partner and Chair, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

Katherine L. Neville, Ph.D. Partner

2016 Women Worth Watching Honoree

2016 Women Worth Watching Honoree

Jennifer Burnette

Pamela L. Cox

Shelley C. Danek, Ph.D.

Partner and Board Member, Adler Planetarium Women’s Board

Partner, Chair, IP Transactions, Board Member and Secretary, CLP, Chair, LESI Life Sciences Committee, and 2014 Women Worth Watching Honoree

Partner and Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Maureen Beacom Gorman

Julianne M. Hartzell

Partner, Partner, Member, Marketing and Chair, Medical Finance Devices, Former Committees, and President, Coalition of VP-External Affairs and Women’s Initiatives in VP-Fundraising, Law, and Women’s Bar 2015 Women Worth Foundation Watching Honoree

Marsha K. Hoover Partner and Trustee, Union League Boys and Girls Club

Lynn L. Janulis, Ph.D.

Li-Hsien (Lily) Rin-Laures, M.D.

Partner, Member, Partner, Former Member, Diversity and Executive Committee, Inclusion and Pro Bono Committees, and National Director, Women In Bio, and Former Committee Chair and Vice-Chair, 2013 Women Worth Watching Honoree Membership and Communications, Women In Bio-Chicago

Sharon M. Sintich, Ph.D. Partner, Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Co-Chair, Young Women In Bio Committee, Women In Bio-Chicago

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP congratulates Heather R. Kissling and Katherine L. Neville, Ph.D. for being named among this year’s Women Worth Watching Heather Kissling serves on the Firm’s Professional Development and Orientation Committee, is active in the Firm’s women’s affinity group, and formally mentors two female associates. She is actively involved in the biotechnology industry, serving on the Women In Bio-Chicago’s Advisory Board, and previously having served on the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s International Convention Programming Committee.

Kate Neville is a member of the Firm’s Recruiting Committee and Marketing & Business Development Committee, and serves as a mentor to Firm associates. She is a current board member and past president of Women In Bio-Chicago, which promotes careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for women in life sciences. She is active in the biotechnology industry and frequently presents CLE seminars on emerging topics in the biotech field.

Heather and Kate’s achievements and leadership are representative of the lawyers of Marshall Gerstein, a firm founded on assisting clients with their highest value, complex intellectual property legal matters.

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KATHERINE L. NEVILLE, PH.D. PARTNER MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP

Company: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Jeffrey S. Sharp Managing Partner Employees: 197 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

LEADING GLOBAL PATENT LAWYER After earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and her Ph.D. in immunology, with her graduate work focusing on experimental models of multiple sclerosis, Dr. Katherine Neville turned her attention to law: “I had no idea what to expect when I changed careers. Leaving bench science behind and heading into law taught me that I can adapt to lots of different situations as long as I put my mind to it.”

Her research background, coupled with her technical expertise and wide-ranging industry knowledge acquired from managing global patent portfolios and prosecution for numerous FDA-approved drugs, equip her to be a proactive strategic partner with clients.

In recognition of her outstanding patent work in life sciences, Neville has been featured as a “Life Sciences Star” in the 2015 edition of LMG Life Sciences. She is recognized as one of Intellectual Asset Management’s “World’s Leading Patent Practitioners”, an IP Star in Managing IP's IP Stars Survey, and is included on the Illinois Rising Stars® list.

Neville, a partner in Marshall, Gerstein & Borun’s Biotechnology practice, provides counsel to clients in strategic management of worldwide patent rights. She calls on over fifteen years of patent prosecution experience to advance clients’ intellectual property A leader inside and outside the and business goals. firm, Neville is a member of the firms’ She counsels clients ranging from Recruiting Committee and Marketing Fortune 500 big pharma companies & Business Development Committee to biotech start-ups and non-profit and mentors firm associates. She is also institutions, assisting them with patent a board member and past president preparation, opinions, due diligence of the Chicago chapter of Women in analyses, interference, reexamination Bio, an organization of professionals and opposition proceedings. for promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for women in

life sciences. “I have enjoyed getting involved in my local communities.

I try to follow the advice I give to younger associates and those asking about switching careers: Seeking out diverse projects and networking inside and outside your organization creates opportunities to expand your career rather than waiting for them to happen. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone because that helps you realize who you really are and what you are capable of.”

“Rewarding” is how she describes being a woman in her profession. “I have met so many smart, talented and interesting women in my career so far who inspire me to keep striving to be better at my job, but to make sure I enjoy what I do as well,” she said.

Neville holds a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, a Ph.D. in immunology from Northwestern University, and a BS in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Mayer Brown LLP Legal N/A 1,500+ Global

LISA FERRI

PARTNER AND IP PRACTICE LEADER MAYER BROWN LLP

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYER ON FRONT LINES With her strong legal acumen, leadership and commitment to diversity, Lisa Ferri’s mission is improving the recruitment, retention and promotion of women attorneys across the legal profession.

A partner in the New York office of Mayer Brown, Ferri leads the office's Intellectual Property group and is on the frontlines in securing and enforcing patents covering innovative biologic therapies. She serves as lead counsel on behalf of high-profile companies in federal courts across the country, covering a broad range of areas from pharmaceuticals and biologics for treatment of HIV/AIDS, cancer, hepatitis, influenza and autoimmunities, to technology for drug delivery systems, research, DNA and medical devices.

Ferri is one of a select few female first-chair trial lawyers racking up major successes for clients, including GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers 134

Squibb and Sanofi, in high-stakes patent cases involving blockbuster drugs. She also serves as co-chair of the firm's global Women's Leadership Committee and as a Board Member of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum.

She says being a woman in her profession has been both challenging and rewarding. “The field of patent litigation is very male dominated, so over the years I have often been the only woman in the conference room or the courtroom,” she said Her colleagues say her leadership is paving the way for other women in the profession. Ferri speaks on panels with clients about women and business development, mentors female associates and participates in the firm’s women’s conferences.

She has an enviable record in hiring, retaining and promoting women, as Mayer Brown’s New York IP Group is 50 percent women, including the

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partners. “I feel very satisfied to have contributed to changing the face of patent litigation,” she said.

Ferri holds a law degree from Seton Hall University Law School and BA from the University of Virginia.

She launched her legal career as a securities class-action litigator and was drawn to life sciences patent litigation after working with the team defending the HIV/AIDs drug AZT in one of the first suits brought pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Act. She serves as a member of numerous bar associations and is an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law where she teaches patent litigation.

“Trial lawyers often say that they hate losing more than they love winning. As a competitive person, I get it, and that explains litigation in a nutshell,” she said. “I knew that litigation was for me as soon as I experienced my first big win.” PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

MillerCoors Beverage Gavin Hattersley 7,500 Chicago, Illinois

BRITT DOUGHERTY

SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING INSIGHTS MILLERCOORS

MAKING BEER GENDER-FRIENDLY Britt Dougherty of MillerCoors has made a name for herself in the maledominated beer industry by winning female drinkers.

As senior director of marketing insights at America’s second-largest beer company, Dougherty has shed light on the women who consume more than 17 billion bottles of beer annually. That is about 25 percent of the market. She’s a leader and innovator in the beer business, changing how the company communicates with consumers.

exclusively to male consumers, or that she’s provided a refreshing departure women don't like beer. from the sophomoric humor that has long been a part of beer advertising.

Being a female marketer for a traditionally male product has provided The industry has taken notice, as she was named to Advertising Age's 2016 her an opportunity to teach others list of Women to Watch. about modern gender. As part of her work, she spearheads MillerCoors initiative aimed at being more inclusive of females in the company's marketing of beer brands. The results of her research and leadership are evident in the recent Coors Light Climb On campaign, which highlights men and women equally.

Dougherty’s insights have led to an Making beer gender-friendly could innovative marketing approach that expand the market and add about 5 connects all of today’s consumers. She million barrels over the next five years has dispelled myths about marketing to company sales. Her colleagues say 136

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Dougherty has spent her entire career in market research. In her seven years at MillerCoors, she’s climbed the ladder just as she has at every organization she has worked.

At MillerCoors she has served as manager of the Coors Family of Brands, senior manager of Premium Lights, and director of Brand and Consumer Insights. PDJ

JOELLE M. SMITH

Company: Mindtree Ltd LLP Industry: Technology Consulting CEO: Rostow Ravanan Employees: 17,000 Headquarters: Warren, New Jersey and Bangalore, India

VICE PRESIDENT HEAD, TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION & HOSPITALITY MINDTREE LTD

STELLAR TRACK RECORD OF DEVELOPMENT AT DIGITAL ENTERPRISE Joelle Smith has a stellar track record of organization-changing business development. Her career has excelled from her early success growing an IT startup, to accountability for a multinational digital enterprise.

As Vice President of Mindtree and Global Head of the Travel, Transportation and Hospitality business, Smith oversees all aspects of the business, including strategy, sales, marketing and operations.

Her colleagues note that she has an impressive impact on the business and a remarkable capacity to drive fresh thinking in any industry.

With annual revenues of over $700M, Mindtree is a leader in managed services, software application management, e-commerce, mobile, cloud computing and data analytics for clients in 17 countries. Smith pioneered the design and development of the company’s first U.S. delivery

center in Florida and established the global Agile Center of Excellence, which created over 300 STEM jobs.

She originally launched her career in capital markets, working on economic modelling at Wharton Econometrics and then moving to Thomson Reuters where she sold software to traders and investment bankers around the world. She pivoted for an opportunity with technology services start-up AppLabs.

As AppLabs’ sixth employee, Smith grew the company’s Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Division to a team of 600 in three years.

Having confidence in herself has served Smith well throughout her career. Smith says her biggest career leap was jumping from a technical consultant to a senior systems analyst with a 40 percent pay increase. She discovered the impact of being confident. “A wise female lawyer told me in the waiting room before the

interview, ‘Never ask for anything less than you've already been offered,” she said. So in the interview when the CFO asked me why I was asking for so much more than I currently make, I looked at him plainly and said, ‘Cause I'm worth it.’ I later found out the only reason they gave me the job was because of the confidence I had in myself,” she said.

Smith sits on the board of the University of Florida College of Engineering and is an Industry Advisory Board Member for Computer Information Systems and Engineering. She helped secure a baccalaureate degree program in Information Technology at Santa Fe College and serves as an Executive Committee and Board Member of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a mentor for Emerging Women in Technology Start-ups and an executive sponsor for Woman in Leadership at Mindtree.

PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP Legal Services Kevin Gaut 250 Los Angeles, California

MELANIE FIGUEROA

MANAGING PARTNER NEW YORK OFFICE MITCHELL SILBERBERG & KNUPP LLP

YOUNG MANAGING PARTNER POSSESSES ENERGY AND POISE

As a young managing partner of the New York office of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Melanie Figueroa deftly splits her time between representing clients and building the culture of the law firm.

While maintaining an active corporate securities practice and working with some of the firms’ largest clients, Figueroa also tackles issues including information technology, marketing, retirement, and recruitment.

Figueroa knew at a young age what she wanted to do with her life.

“I was in second grade,” she said.

“While the type of lawyer I wanted to be has transitioned over time, I was confident early on that this would be my career path.”

She launched her legal career at a boutique corporate securities law firm in NYC, first as a paralegal in college then as a legal clerk while in law school. As a young legal clerk at Feldman LLP, she displayed poise and energy during client interaction, and remained with the firm after 138

graduating from law school. A short time later, following a merger, she became a part of a new burgeoning office for Richardson & Patel, which ultimately merged with MSK last year.

In less than a year, she was appointed managing partner. Her colleagues say she is critical to building the office, recruiting talent, training younger attorneys, and nurturing key client relationships.

They say she is a natural born leader with an infectious laugh, magnetic personality, and thoughtful views on building the business.

They say she’s a natural for creating bonds with clients and is respected as she operates with the poise and sophistication of attorneys many years her senior.

She strives toward ensuring the MSK culture is on display. Figueroa consistently and elegantly divides her time between clients and the administrative duties of an office managing partner. Her input is felt everywhere, with time spent on the committees for diversity and

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

inclusion, marketing, mentoring, and retirement.

Accepting the office managing partner position was her biggest career leap. “As a young, minority woman partner in an industry where women are still grossly underrepresented in management, this position was a huge leap and a tremendous opportunity, particularly at this stage of my career,” she said.

“Every day presents a new learning experience and an opportunity for growth.”

She says the most important quality a woman leader should have is positive intuition and respect for your colleagues. “Good leaders also understand that they are only as good as the team they lead and success is difficult to achieve without the support of those around you, so it is important to respect, encourage, support and believe in your team in order to build an environment where that respect, encouragement and support will be reciprocated.” PDJ

BERTHA MINNIHAN

PARTNER, NATIONAL PRACTICE LEADER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN AUDIT SERVICES MOSS ADAMS LLP Company: Moss Adams LLP Industry: Accounting and Consulting CEO: Chris Schmidt Employees: 2,500+ Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

FOCUSING ON THE END GAME FOR WOMEN Bertha Minnihan is a recognized figure in the national public accounting marketplace, a sought after thought leader on employee benefit plans, and a champion of mentoring women in the workplace.

As a partner and national practice leader with the audit services firm Moss Adams LLP, Minnihan says she always knew auditing was a team sport. But says she has learned how to build, train, and respect not only her work team, but personal teams that can make a difference on one’s outlook in life.

She serves on the AICPA Employee Benefit Plans Expert Panel, and served on the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center’s Executive Committee and its Technical Standards Subcommittee, which assists with the Department of Labor’s review of ERISA audits and auditors.

At the firm, she is a mentor who serves on the Women’s Initiative Advisory Board. “Women in accounting are somewhat late to the party, so paving our own path has been tough and having the support of other women has been scarce,” she said. Her appointment to the Forum W Advisory board is a clear reflection of commitment to providing guidance and strategic support to women leaders in the region.

She has been named by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a Women of Influence in the Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business, and a CalCPA Woman to Watch. “Focusing on the end game for Minnihan fell in love with public women is imperative as there are lots accounting and auditing when she of opportunities to give up or listen to interned in college at a professor’s noise,” she said. firm. “It was fun for me to go into

an organization, re-do the financial puzzle and see how the reporting pieces fall in to place,” she said. She has practiced public accounting since 1995 and has extensive experience directing all phases of audits for a variety of benefit plans, including 401(k), 403(b), pension, employee stock ownership, health, and welfare benefit plans. Her ERISA expertise includes the specialized knowledge required for audits, Form 5500s, and related filings. She provides various consulting services related to the ERISA industry nationwide.

She is frequently called upon to speak at local and national organization events dedicated to the BenefitPlan Audit specialty. Her expertise is also widely recognized by many third-party administrators, trustees, and investment custodians utilized by companies in Silicon Valley and beyond. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

MUFG Union Bank, N. A. LLP Financial Services Stephan Cummings 14,000+ New York, New York

MARIANNE BAMONTE

MANAGING DIRECTOR HEAD OF GLOBAL TRUST SERVICES TRANSACTION BANKING DIVISION AMERICAS MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.

CLIENT FOCUS AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE As a managing director at one of the world’s leading financial groups, Marianne Bamonte is passionate about both her career and with helping other women succeed.

do with them,” Bamonte said. Her colleagues say she instills in her team the four P’s: passion, perseverance, patience, and persuasion.

As a mentor, she recently shared her career perspectives on a panel hosted by the bank’s employee resource group Women’s Initiatives Network. Being a woman in her profession has been challenging at times earlier in her career, given that there were few women executives to act as mentors or sponsors, she Her colleagues say she fosters a culture of client focus and operational said. “Being a woman with few role models allowed me a better excellence within the organization. appreciation and understanding of the She’s known for approaching the critical importance of seeking strong business from a strategic level personnel and leadership teams with while understanding the details different backgrounds and various life on implementation. experiences,” she added.

The words she lives by are “treat Women leaders should have a others as you would like to be treated “passion for learning and for all and remember everyone has abilities people sprinkled with patience and and skills, but the difference is what perseverance to achieve success,” you do with them or help others to she said.

As MUFG Union Bank’s managing director and Global Trust Services head, Bamonte leads a team of over 200 employees and is responsible for three lines of business – Corporate Trust Services, Global Custody Services, and Liquidity Agency Solutions.

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She says her biggest career leap was moving from a teaching position to a bank retirement client services representative position, altering her career focus and path. “What I learned from this major career path movement is that it is imperative to embrace change, not fight it. I also learned to try to feed your mind every day just as you do your body. Hunger for new learning opportunities,” she said.

She remembers when it became apparent to her that her present career was the right place for her. “It became clear that I was truly making a difference, improving our service experiences by providing best in class asset administration solutions and high touch relationship management to our clients for their investment portfolios,” Bamonte said. PDJ

VANESSA ELLERBE WYCHE DIRECTOR OF EXPLORATION INTEGRATION AND SCIENCE NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Company: NASA Johnson Space Center Industry: Government CEO: JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Employees: 2,938 Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

NASA SPACE EXPLORATION As Director of Exploration Integration and Science for the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Vanessa Ellerbe Wyche leads human space exploration initiatives that will take us further into the solar system.

Program, and Director of Operations and Test Integration in the former Constellation Program. As an executive at Johnson Space Center, she has supported tactical operations and strategic planning.

The 28-year NASA veteran describes her job as a dream come true. The opportunity to learn ‘what’s out there’ connects her to NASA’s mission to put humans on the surface of Mars. In her career, Wyche has developed space flight hardware, supported training and data collection on astronauts - before, during and after flight - and held positions in which she was responsible for the development and integration of hardware and systems, including ensuring astronauts were trained for research missions which assembled the International Space Station.

While working for the space shuttle program office, Wyche’s hard work and dedication were recognized prompting a career leap that led her to greater accomplishments.

“I went from managing individual payloads for the shuttle to being the one responsible for all crew, cargo and International Space Station flight requirements. It was a big leap that taught me I was capable of accomplishing amazing things if I built and motivated a high performing team,” she said. “I still value the importance of a strong team and what they can accomplish.”

Wyche has been in many leadership As the youngest of five children, roles while at NASA, including Wyche grew up naturally inquisitive Flight Manager for several missions while learning how to view obstacles in the now-retired Space Shuttle

as challenges to be met. Her colleagues say the most important lesson she shares is “don’t let your environment define you.” It is a truism bred, she says, from growing up without access to the resources for youngsters interested in engineering.

She is passionate about the next generation of explorers and is a mentor and staunch promoter of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math (STEM) education.

Committed to inspiring interest in STEM fields, she is active with local schools, churches, and organizations such as Boy Scouts and Jack & Jill of America. Her many outreach activities include being featured on CareerGirls.org, a video-based career exploration tool.

Wyche also leads NASA’s participation in an annual science fair at a Houston-area underserved elementary school. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Legal Scott J. Fisher, Managing Partner 297 Chicago, Illinois

LEAH SCHLEICHER

PARTNER NEAL, GERBER & EISENBERG LLP

CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN LAW FIRMS Leah Schleicher has built a successful legal career in the real estate sector while remaining dedicated to helping those around her, within both the legal profession and the community at large.

As a partner with the Chicagobased firm Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, she represents clients in a widerange of real estate matters including commercial real estate acquisitions and depositions, hotel and property management, leasing, and real estate finance. She also co-chairs the firm’s Hospitality & Leisure practice group and its Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and is a member of its Associate Review Committee.

Schleicher is a strong advocate for women in the community. From 2007-2013 she was a member of the board of directors of the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, which provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence in Chicago, and she remains a supporter of the 142

organization. She is currently a member of the board of directors of Housing Opportunities for Women, which implements prevention strategies and support services to the homeless.

While Schleisher is very analytical, as are many lawyers, she has also learned how important it is personally and professionally to rely on her gut instincts. She always knew she wanted to be a lawyer, and even when she Schleicher also recently participated had no idea how she would pay for law school, she followed that dream in the inaugural Women in Law because it felt right. “I could have Hackathon, a shark tank-style pitch saved my former self a lot of worry competition involving senior-level if I had known that I had good gut leaders from dozens of top law firms instincts and that they can be trusted to devise initiatives to better retain on big decisions. By making decisions and advance experienced women in geared to make me happy in my law firms. “The legal industry has some work to do in terms of retention personal life, I really free myself up to and promotion of women, but so does pursue professional success.” the rest of the world,” Schleicher said.

Schleicher, who earned her “I don’t know of an industry that is bachelor’s degree from Michigan hitting it out of the park in terms of State University and her law degree retention and promotion of women. from Fordham University School of I think that women in the legal Law, began her practice in New York profession have a bit of a leg up in before moving to Chicago where she that our job is to advocate for clients. continued to build a successful legal We should be able to use those skills career in the real estate sector while to advocate for ourselves and remaining dedicated to helping others.

PDJ our colleagues.”

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PATTY ARVIELO

PRESIDENT NEW AMERICAN FUNDING

Company: New American Funding Industry: Mortgage Lending CEO: Rick Arvielo Employees: 2,200 Headquarters: Tustin, California

ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM P

atty Arvielo believes the most important quality a woman leader should have is an unconditional belief in her own abilities. “No one will tap you on the shoulder and ask you to be successful,” she said.

As a first-generation Latina from Southern California, Arvielo started her career from scratch 35 years ago. Today, she is co-founder and president of New American Funding, a mortgage lender with 2,200 employees spanning 140 branches across the country.

Her colleagues say she's influencing the mortgage industry in terms of lending policy, promoting Hispanic homeownership, and the upward mobility of women in the workplace.

When she was 16, Arvielo had accepted a clerical position with TransUnion Credit. By the age of 19 she had worked her way up into mortgage and a few years later asked

to lead the operations unit of a startup brokerage company. Ultimately, she took her work experience and launched New American Funding with her husband in 2003. “I went from working for a major corporation to working for myself,” she said. “I was investing in my ideas to fund future growth opportunities out of my own money - it was part of learning the whole risk reward part of being an entrepreneur.”

Arvielo’s experience in lending prompted the company to form its own retail-based lending, wholesale, and builder divisions.

Under her guidance, the company now operates the entire home-loan process in-house, from origination to processing, underwriting, and funding to servicing. Mortgage Executive Magazine recently named New American Funding for the third consecutive year on its 50 Best Companies to Work For list.

Colleagues say she cares about the well-being and growth opportunities of those within her company. She continually works for the upward mobility of women and leads a company where 57 percent of employees are women, many holding C-level positions. She heads the Latino Focus group, she established to educate the housing community on ways to better serve the Latino community during the home buying process.

She is a member of the Corporate Board of Governors for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. She serves on affordable lending panels for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Consumer Affairs Advisory Council and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the Executive Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Orange County. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

New Jersey State Bar Association Voluntary Bar Association Angela C. Scheck 85 New Brunswick, New Jersey

DENISE SHARPERSON

ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY INITIATIVES NEW JERSEY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION

ADVOCATING FOR DIVERSITY ACROSS THE LEGAL PROFESSION For two decades, attorney Denise M. Sharperson has successfully advocated for increased diversity initiatives across the legal profession.

Sharperson is an active member of the Garden State Bar Association, She says her biggest career leap had Morris County Bar Association, been transitioning back into full-time and the American Bar Association.

As assistant general counsel and legal work after several years as a stay- In addition, she is a diamond life member of Delta Sigma Theta director of diversity initiatives at the at-home mom. “I quickly realized Sorority, and a member of the Morris New Jersey State Bar Association, that work life balance is an allusive Sharperson has substantially concept. You just do the best you can County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. increased the number of diverse and keep it moving,” she said. attorneys involved with the Among her many accolades, Sharperson says being a woman association and raised the bar for earlier this year she received the in the profession is similar to being diversity and inclusion across the Garden State Bar Associations’ Oliver an orchestra conductor trying to get New Jersey legal community.

Randolph Award for her dedication to everyone to play at the appropriate advancing the goals of diversity and The NJSBA Office of Diversity and time and in the right key. “Women inclusion in the legal profession. She Inclusion emerged last year and is leaders need to have grit,” she said. holds a law degree from Seton Hall charged with developing initiatives for “In my opinion, grit is that inner University School of Law and is a catapulting D&I to the forefront of the spirit that will keep you going on a top fundraiser for the March New Jersey legal community. Under project even when everyone gives of Dimes. PDJ Sharperson’s direction, the association up or thinks that you are crazy for has developed innovative programs and persevering to the end,” she added.

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spearheaded events garnering recordbreaking participation and attendance.

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KELLI PARSONS

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING OFFICER NEW YORK LIFE

Company: New York Life Industry: Insurance CEO: Ted Mathas Employees: 8,234 Headquarters: New York, New York

CREATING A SHARED VISION As a senior communications and marketing executive for the largest mutual life insurance company in the country, Kelli Parsons says that happiness is more important than success.

“One can be successful in a job without being happy in it, but happiness matters more,” said the chief communications and marketing officer for New York Life. “Strive to do what interests you. The rest will work itself out,” Parsons added.

She is responsible for New York Life’s consumer brand, stakeholder, and employee experience. She creates a shared vision for marketing and defines strategic priorities for the company, which has about $550 billion in assets under management and ranks 61st on the 2016 Fortune 500 list.

Her colleagues say she leads by example, empowering people to take smart risks, lead purposeful change and build belief in themselves and the company. Most recently, her efforts have been with a consumer-focused

brand marketing program positioning the company for relevancy with maturing millennials. It targets a large and challenging market opportunity in a consumer set beginning to make decisions such as buying homes, getting married or having children.

Parsons, who holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, started her career as a television news reporter for NBC and CBS affiliates covering business, politics and breaking news. She has served as head of communications and marketing for two Fortune 100 financial services companies, including Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), and a leading private equity partnership. She knew her present career was what she wanted to do when she recognized the power of communications to solve problems, create opportunities, and inspire people.

“I joined Fannie Mae as CCO at the height of the financial crisis, running ‘into the fire’ as others

fled,” she said. “It was a big risk, a remarkable experience and I learned that a unified team can achieve big, audacious goals. We returned the company to profitability, paid taxpayers, saved a million families' homes from foreclosure and stabilized American housing for the future,” she added.

Her areas of expertise include brand strategy, corporate reputation, employee engagement, media relations, public affairs and corporate responsibility with a special interest in business transformation and change management. Among her numerous activities, Parsons is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society, the Communications Advisory Council for the College of Charleston, is on the Board of Directors of Life Happens, as well as a former trustee with the Murray State University Foundation. She has also established scholarships at the University of Kentucky and Murray State to enable students from her home state to study abroad. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

New York Power Authority Utility Gil Quiniones 1,800 White Plains, New York

KRISTINE PIZZO

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES AND SHARED SERVICES NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY

LEADING CHANGE ACROSS ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY As a change management leader, Kristine Pizzo is guiding New York Power Authority during a period of profound transformation across the electric power industry.

As senior vice president of human resources, she oversees employee benefit programs, services and talent development for the country’s largest state public power organization.

She’s also responsible for the company’s Enterprise Shared Services, which include fleet, real estate, facilities and corporate support services.

Pizzo’s colleagues say her insight is leading a continual process of institutional transformation while striving to provide greater access to clean energy. They say her landmark workforce planning and knowledge management initiatives are vital to the company, where she is executive sponsor of its Workforce 146

Development initiative. Her mission is to provide employee programs and services to attract, develop and retain a competent, motivated and diverse workforce to achieve NYPA's strategic goals.

Pizzo says challenge is necessary for growth. “You must continuously challenge yourself in order to grow,” she said. “If you run a mile every day for a year, you may have run 365 miles, but you may never run a marathon. Growth requires effort and risk,” she said.

Prior to joining NYPA, she was chief of administration at Columbia University, and executive vice president of human resources and chief administrative officer for New York City Economic Development Corporation. She has also served in managerial roles at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the United States Olympic Committee and was a judicial

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

fellow at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

While at the U.S. Olympic Committee, Pizzo was responsible for creating the strategic plan to promote diversity in governance and athletics. That work inspired her to make diversity a focus in her future endeavors and pursue a law degree.

At law school, Pizzo focused on labor and employment law with the goal of advancing diversity and talent management initiatives within organizations.

“Exploring and exposing yourself to career opportunities as early as college and never stopping is the way to find the right career. You have to find your career; your career may not find you,” she said.

Pizzo holds a bachelor's degree from St. John's University and a law degree from the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School at Touro College. PDJ

Every day, in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve. It all starts with our core value of respect for the individual.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Northwestern Mutual Insurance John E. Schlifske 5,500 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

KIMBERLEY CREWS GOODE VICE PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

EXECUTING COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES As vice president of communications and corporate affairs at Northwestern Mutual, Kimberley Crews Goode has a busy career connecting and empowering others while executing the communications strategy at the $27.9 billion financial services firm.

With 25 years of experience in communications across global companies, she’s known for removing barriers to make organizations more diverse and inclusive. Goode has been with Northwestern since 2008, where she is instrumental in shaping brand strategies and driving diversity and inclusion for a cultural transformation.

Her colleagues say she is an incredible force for progress and change at Northwestern Mutual as well as in the Milwaukee community.

She champions how diversity is translated in the company’s corporate communications and is a mentor and sponsor for many women.

She said being a woman in her 148

profession has been rewarding. “My opinion is sought and valued, and my perspective and approach has helped colleagues and organizations reach better business outcomes,” she said.

Before joining Northwestern, she held communication positions at Galileo International, American Express Co., Prudential Financial, Kellogg Co., and Visteon Corp. Over the years, she learned that a leader who wants to attract and retain good talent should not only be smart and capable, but must also treat people with respect.

When Goode first started her career, she said an African-American woman executive was the leader of her department. “She became my inspiration and role model that helped me know from the start of my career that it was possible to aspire to hold the top job in my profession,” she said. “You have to believe in yourself to excel and persevere, especially when others doubt you.”

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Throughout her career, Goode has been honored with numerous accolades for her work and her activism. The most recent was being named by The Network Journal as one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business.

She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the national leadership organization of senior African-American corporate executives in Fortune 500 companies.

She’s also a member of the Arthur W. Page Society, the Milwaukee Urban League, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, and serves on the National Executive Board of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Goode holds a degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and is a member of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation Board, the largest corporate foundation in the state of Wisconsin. PDJ

ESTER BANQUE

VICE PRESIDENT HEAD IMMUNOLOGY & DERMATOLOGY BUSINESS UNIT NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS

Company: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Industry: Pharmaceuticals CEO: Fabrice Chouraqui Employees: 7,103 Headquarters: East Hanover, New Jersey

INSPIRATIONAL, PURPOSE-DRIVEN GLOBAL LEADER Ester Banque is an inspirational and purpose-driven global leader whose patient-centric focus shapes who she is and how she leads.

the only woman in the room. Being different forced me to develop an inner strength, to trust my instincts, to follow my true purpose and to eventually pave the way for others,” During two decades with Novartis, Banque has consistently been recognized she said. for her ability to build high-performing As a university student, Banque teams, drive innovation and launch channeled her boundless energy and superior products. competitive spirit as a player on Spain’s National Women’s Soccer Team.

Her success is shaped by three Her focus on making a difference in leadership principles: Be your the world, coupled with her passion authentic self; act with purpose; for scientific innovation, led her to and unleash people’s potential. Her pursue a career in the pharmaceutical colleagues say her tenacity and industry. Starting in sales, she assumed commitment to fight for what’s right for patients, customers and the teams roles of increasing responsibility leading commercial teams covering she leads – have positively impacted over 50 European countries and the Novartis’ culture and strengthened US. Her leadership extended across connections to the diverse a spectrum of high-performing stakeholders the company serves. therapeutic franchises including As a senior executive with Novartis, women’s health, cardiovascular and Banque has established a strong track metabolism, hematology, immunology record of global performance by and dermatology. embracing change, and championing As vice president and head of diversity and inclusion. She says Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ Immunology being a woman in her profession has & Dermatology Business Unit, Banque been a blessing. “Earlier in my career, leads a team of 400 associates. She has there were often times when I was

established a reputation as a product launch and turn-around expert, receiving many accolades while putting the patient first and driving business results. She is committed to supporting the LGBT community – evidenced most recently by her efforts to develop a partnership with the True Colors Fund in their fight for LGBT youth as part of their New York City Steering Committee.

She says the most important quality a woman leader should have is the ability to inspire – “to share a vision with others while remaining humble, compassionate and vulnerable.” She lives by the words "be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Banque holds a BS in chemistry from the Universitat Autónoma Barcelona, a post graduate degree in pharmaceutical marketing from IDEC/Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and an MBA from IDEC/Universitat Pompeu Fabra. PDJ

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RENEE VANHEEL

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT PAY IT FORWARD PROCESSING Company:

Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Pay it Forward Processing / Every Swipe Benefits Charity Merchant Services Renee VanHeel 20 San Diego, CA

MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY GIVING BACK As founder and president of a company that has grown 300 percent for the past 15 years, Renee VanHeel is a true entrepreneur and a woman constantly on the go.

Foundation, which has partnered with to helping victims of natural disasters.

Pay it Forward Processing to donate Working with a team of volunteers, money to non-profits. the group gave $5 million in goods, services and money to fire survivors.

Most recently, VanHeel launched a

Early in her career, she had been a sales manager and senior partner in a family run business, B-B Enterprises. She expanded sales to include mass market, while implementing a training course for In 2007, VanHeel had lost her new recruits, speeding up profitability.

San Diego home to the California wildfires and had to rebuild from the She ultimately left that position she loved to stay home with her sons. “I ground up. Today, she lives by the learned that there are other ways to phrase "where there's a will there's a honor my priorities, while still paying way." Her colleagues say most of her the bills,” she said. Today, her goals She is also president of GCE Health, ventures have blossomed from that include being able to bring honor, a personal nutrition coaching group event which has contributed to her partnered with Shaklee Corporation; being a powerful and humble woman. value, and hope to each person, business, and charity she encounters. she now consults for Gold Coast Between 2007 and 2012, VanHeel She approaches each day with focused Empire, which develops sales training served as founder and director of courses; and chairs the Gold Coast Fired Up Sisters, a nonprofit dedicated intention to bring significance into other people's days. PDJ VanHeel wears a variety of hats at all times. She is founder and president of several entities, including the national full-service credit card processing company Pay it Forward Processing, and its non-profit giveback program Every Swipe Benefits Charity. Every Swipe Benefits Charity donated over $100,000 in the last two years to more than 25 charities.

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weekly business television show called Women Mean Business. On the show, she interviews women business leaders and entrepreneurs about trending business topics in today’s society.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

DEBBIE SINGH

VICE PRESIDENT, ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PLAN INTERNATIONAL CANADA

Company: Plan International Canada Industry: Not for profit CEO: Caroline Riseboro Employees: 200 + Headquarters: Woking, United Kingdom

AGENT OF CHANGE Debbie Singh is someone who brings out the best in people while building out talent for a development agency working to end global poverty.

they refer to as the catalyst. She drives change through the organization with thought or humility, not stopping to say “why” but rather “why not.”

empowerment. She delved into human resources to focus on policy to grow people in ways that supported leading growth organizations.

As vice president of organizational effectiveness at Plan International Canada, Singh works relentlessly to support staff to help bring children out of poverty through an organization operating in 69 counties. She says resilience is key to leadership and success is being able to put the needs of others beyond your own to shape the outcome for those impacted.

At Plan International Canada, she is responsible for Organizational Effectiveness and cross cutting business leadership for Gender, Child Protection, Privacy and Security for the organization’s $220 million operations. She is sought out internationally for her expertise to lead and or support in these business areas.

She lives by the phrase to make a difference in this world, you must first dare to be different. “When the truth needs to be spoken, when the work needs to get done, when the help needs to be offered…dare to make a difference,” she said.

Singh has created a unique customer learning platform for reaching staff members. Whether it is through a myXchange that leverages young talent, or a new myLeadership Edge suite with custom booster leadership sessions, she develops talent as an asset to the organization.

She has been active in her field, teaching for the HRPA, the professional organization for human resources in Ontario. She is passionate in providing the space and platform for young leaders to grow and currently mentors a few young CEO’s.

Her colleagues say when you leave a conversation with Singh you can’t help but smile because she brings out something in you that you didn’t know was there.

Singh is a people person who consistently demonstrates the willingness to listen. Her colleagues describe her as a confident, compassionate, focused leader who

“I have learned that success should be measured not by the position that you reach in life, but rather by the obstacles you have to overcome while trying to succeed along the way,” she said. Singh holds a BA from the University of Waterloo, and a masters Singh’s professional background started in social services. She spent time and PhD from California State. PDJ working with vulnerable populations providing counseling on life skills and Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

PNC Bank, N.A. Financial Services William S. Demchak 52,000 Pittsburgh, PA

ALICIA POWELL

MANAGING CHIEF COUNSEL PNC BANK

ACHIEVING CLIENT GOALS WHILE MITIGATING RISK Alicia Powell is a dynamic leader with Colleagues say she is a resultsthe ability to execute on transformative oriented, strategic thinker who directs change initiatives while remaining clients toward achieving their goals steady and consistent. while mitigating risk. She is also a As managing chief counsel to PNC seasoned leader, serving as the chair of PNC Legal’s Diversity & Inclusion Bank’s Asset Management Group, Council and as an active member Powell has a strong track record of of PNC’s enterprise-wide Corporate helping others succeed and being passionate about advancing diversity Diversity Council. and inclusion in the workplace and the national legal marketplace.

She is chief counsel to a group that provides investment, fiduciary, family office services, and banking and lending to individuals, corporate and municipal entities, and charities and foundations across the United States.

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Powell joined PNC in 2013, following over a decade at Reed Smith LLP, where she was a partner in the Investment Management Group. At the firm, she chaired its Women’s Initiative in Pittsburgh, a role that allowed her to design the strategy for, develop and implement

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

award-winning initiatives for Reed Smith’s female lawyers. Last year, she was named a Most Powerful and Influential Woman by the National Diversity Council.

Powell holds a law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law, and a BA in English literature from Miami University. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Aviary and is a former board member of St. Clair Hospital.

She points to courage as the most important quality of a woman leader.

“Courage to stand up for yourself and for your team, and to do what's right even when it is hard,” Powell said. PDJ

PLANNING STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR GLOBAL OPERATIONS For more than two decades, Michele Alcazar has been involved in the development of a financial services company that today is a Fortune 500 company with operations Company: in the United States, Asia, Europe Prudential Financial, Inc. and Latin America and more than $1 Industry: trillion of assets under management.

Financial services CEO: Alcazar is vice president, John R. Strangfeld Operations & Strategy in the Global Employees: Business & Technology Solutions 49,000 organization at Prudential Financial, Headquarters: Inc. She is responsible for leading Newark, New Jersey Prudential’s Office of the CIO, which provides human resources, communications, technology VICE PRESIDENT planning, and learning and OPERATIONS & SYSTEMS development oversight for the chief GLOBAL BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS information officer and her leadership PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC. team. She’s also the Human Resources leader for Prudential’s Customer systems training and development. strategic direction for technology for Office and its Center for Next Prudential’s global operations,” She plays an integral role in Generation Growth.

Prudential’s sponsorship of Workforce she said.

Alcazar joined Prudential back Opportunity Services, a program She realized her present career path in 1993 as part of its Corporate that provides education, on–the-job was exactly what she wanted after she Employee Benefits Department. Since training and career opportunities to received a handwritten card from a then, she has held various human high-potential high school graduates colleague thanking her for helping her resources positions supporting in the Newark, N.J. area. This through a difficult time in her career domestic and international program has recently been expanded and personal life. “Her expression of employees, including Prudential to include enlisted veterans as part of appreciation made me proud of the Investment Management, the Policy Prudential’s veteran’s initiatives. kind of company Prudential is. Her Owner Relations Department, card made me know that my job does Alcazar lives by the words “feel Corporate Centers Human Resources, the fear and do it anyway.” Those matter. It gave me sense of validation and most recently Corporate to know that my career makes an words are the title of a book by Technology Management. impact not just on the bottom line but Susan Jeffers she read about 15 also on how individual people are able Over the years, she has been years ago that has a tremendous to live, grow and enjoy their lives,” instrumental in growing the impact on her. She says her biggest she said. company’s infrastructure. About career leap was transitioning from

MICHELE ALCAZAR

seven years ago, Alcazar spearheaded the development of a human resources infrastructure for a new technology entity in Japan, Prudential Systems Japan, Limited, which included staffing, compensation and benefits plan design, work rules, policies, HR recordkeeping, and

the Human Resources Department to the technology organization at Prudential. She had initially been intimidated by technology. “I got over that fear, and today I have a huge passion and respect for IT. My job now is to help our Global Chief Information Officer plan the

Alcazar is a member of the international think-tank Research Board. She holds a BA in management from Richard Stockton State College, and Professional in Human Resources certification from the Society of Human Resources Management. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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you deserve the recognition.

Congratulations Nicole Perkins and Alicia G. Powell. Leaders. Doers. Motivators. PNC is proud to honor you for all you’ve achieved and for receiving a 2016 Women Worth Watching Award.

We are proud to have you on our team. pnc.com

Š2016 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

JANET ENGELS

DIRECTOR, PORTFOLIO ADVISORY GROUP RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT-U.S.

Company: RBC Wealth Management - U.S. Industry: Financial Services CEO: Michael Armstrong Employees: 4,700 Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota

SECURITIES EXPERT DRIVING INVESTMENT STRATEGY As a securities industry veteran, Janet Engels is responsible for driving investment strategy at a leading wealth management company that administers about $284 billion in assets in the U.S.

15 year, coming to RBC through an acquisition of Tucker Anthony, where she started her career in the Equity Research Department.

Engels has been director of the Portfolio Advisory Group for the past

RBC Wealth Management Irv Weiser Diversity Award, she embodies the

firm’s core value of diversity and inclusion.

Engels encourages RBC Wealth Management branches and financial Five years ago, she helped create advisors to host events that help a global strategy report called women learn more about those issues.

As director of the RBC Wealth Global Insight, bringing together When asked about the key qualities of Management Portfolio Advisory research colleagues and sources from a woman leader, she said, “The ability Group, Engels is frequently the face of around the world offering market to listen, which is crucial to build the firm in the news media providing commentary and key forecasts to RBC teams and build acceptance for a path strategic analysis of financial markets. Wealth Management clients. Today, forward. This holds true for all leaders.

Information is the lifeblood of the Global Insight is translated into four A second key quality is flexibility, financial markets, and Engels is languages and shared monthly with and the ability to adapt to changing among the first providing the latest clients throughout the world. situations and circumstances.” market commentary. Through Engels is a member of the firm’s She also advises women to network. interviews with outlets such as CNBC Director’s Group and of the RBC “Learn as much as you can, as early and The Wall Street Journal, she Women’s Association of Financial as you can in your career, about other represents the RBC brand with her Advisors Employee Resource Group. people, their roles, responsibilities professionalism and vast knowledge Beyond the responsibilities of her and experiences. Never miss an from 33 years in the securities position, she is passionate about opportunity to meet someone new, industry. RBC Wealth Managementeducating and empowering women and to learn something about him U.S. is the seventh-largest wealth about their finances, and about or her,” she said. Engels holds a BS manager by assets and number of raising awareness about persons with in business administration from financial advisors in the U.S. disabilities. As a past recipient of the Bucknell University. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Reed Smith LLP Law Sandy Thomas More than 1, 700 attorneys worldwide Global

KIT CHASKIN PARTNER REED SMITH LLP

LEADING THE WAY FOR WOMEN IN THE LEGAL SECTOR Reed Smith’s Kit Chaskin has developed and implemented some of the most innovative women’s career advancement programs in the legal sector.

In addition, over the past 20 years, Chaskin has achieved recognized results by recovering millions of dollars in covered insurance claims for her clients. She counsels clients around the globe in areas such as risk transfer, risk management, and policy terms.

She is also known as the longtime global director of the Women's Initiative Network at Reed Smith (WINRS) – a global community of lawyers operating as a “Virtual Practice Group” dedicated to enhancing the workplace to more effectively develop, reward, engage, and attract women lawyers. Chaskin said her biggest career leap was when she started directing the initiative. “I learned to lead,” she said.

With her recent move from Reed Smith’s office in Chicago to its London location, Chaskin is 156

providing new opportunities to expand and strengthen the WINRS network. Moreover, she has made WINRS a business driver connected directly to the law firm’s strategic priorities. As of year-end 2015 in the U.S., women at Reed Smith include:

working arrangements. She is also instrumental in PipelineRS, designed for women associates who have been practicing for at least four years and for whom partnership is a goal.

She is a driving force behind numerous accolades the firm has received over the years. Most recently, • 49 percent of associates in 2016, the firm again received • 44 percent of counsel top rankings and Gold Standard • 22 percent of equity partners Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum, for the • 39 percent of all U.S. sixth year in a row. Reed Smith was

Committee chairs also recognized as being among the • 39 percent of all Executive 2016 Best Law Firms for Women

Committee positions

by Working Mother and Flex-Time • 31 percent of the firm’s Lawyers, was named Equality &

Compensation and Diversity Firm of the Year by In-House

Promotion Committee Community, was honored for having the Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative She has been instrumental in at the 2016 HR in Law Awards, and creating numerous programs, including a Parental Leave Policy and received the Diversity Leader Award, for the second year in a row, from ReturnRS, that provides support for parents before, during, or after a leave. Profiles in Diversity Journal.

She spearheads the new Work/Life Chaskin holds a law degree from Balance Policy that moves beyond an Northwestern Pritzker School accommodation mindset to recognize of Law, and a BS from various categories of flexible Northwestern University. PDJ

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: Renzei Holdings Industry: Various (advertising/ marketing/venture capital) CEO: Julia Huang Employees: 80+ Headquarters: Long Beach, California

JULIA HUANG

CEO, PRESIDENT RENZEI HOLDINGS

CREATING A VISION Julia Huang has an ability to provide a creative vision in areas others can’t see potential for opportunity. She has built three companies, including an Asian American advertising and marketing powerhouse.

Huang is CEO and president of Renzei Holdings, Inc., the parent company of her two main business entities - the award winning Asian American design and advertising agency interTrend Communications, Inc., and Imprint Venture Lab, a venture capital incubator known for growing small fashion-conscience companies.

Innovation, leadership, community service and executive responsibility are all virtually components of her DNA. Her colleagues say her fortitude and dedication in taking an insurmountable task and bringing it to life is a testimony to her personality. They say she leads by example and her philosophy of “she works for us” creates opportunities or

others. She lives by the words never give up.

She has dedicated the past 25 years to building opportunities from a single client into three successful companies, while contributing in leading the development and growth of the community in Long Beach, California. She also champions diversity by creating opportunities for Asian Americans, Women, and the LGBT communities.

Her professional accomplishments are well established with award winning pioneering achievements and education and guidance of companies such as Toyota Motor Corp., The Walt Disney Company, JP Morgan Chase, AT&T, and Nestle, as well as successful start-ups such as Knockaround.

She is a community leader and serves on a variety of local boards and committees, including a recent appointment by the City of Long Beach to serve as a commissioner to the Queen Mary. PDJ Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP Legal Jennifer Grady (Managing Partner) 130 New York

JULIA LU

PARTNER RICHARDS KIBBE & ORBE LLP

ADVISING ON THE FINANCIAL MARKETS With an extensive background in securities offerings and a leading career across the financial sector, Julia Lu focuses her legal practice on the distressed debt and derivatives markets.

policies and procedures, and to draft documentation used in distressed assets, including trading bank loans, bankruptcy claims, and reorganization equities.

Lu’s career is defined by everincreasing influence, responsibility, and leadership. Born and raised in China, she moved to the United States to attend law school. While seconded to the bank loan trading and syndication desk at Goldman Sachs, Lu served on the operating She advises clients in transactional committee, and set global trading and regulatory aspects of their trading policies and processes to ensure businesses and collaborates with them smooth operation of the trading desk. to forge strategic and pragmatic legal Her deep background in the solutions to complex trading issues. derivatives sector is underscored by her role as a potential pool member A Wall Street player, Lu has to be called upon to conduct external substantial experience in derivative reviews and determinations made transactions based on secured and by the International Swaps and unsecured loans in North America, Derivatives Associations (ISDA) Europe and Asia. She collaborates Credit Derivatives Determinations with major broker-dealers and Committee. This panel breaks the investment managers to formulate deadlock when the DC, which As a partner at the New York office of Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, Lu represents some of the world’s top investment firms and funds while driving the firm’s distressed debt practice. She lives by the words “strive to add value.”

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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

assesses the impact of corporate events on credit derivatives, cannot reach a majority.

Lu serves as a director for Rega Capital Dynamic Value Fund, a Hong Kong-based hedge fund. She is a sounding board for its management and investment professionals regarding investment processes, legal compliance, and risk assessment.

At the firm, Lu sits on the Investment and Attorney Development Committees. She maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes serving as counsel to the Museum of Chinese in America.

She is also an active participant in the firms’ partnership with the Posse Foundation, which provides full scholarships to leading universities for extraordinary public high school students.

She holds a law degree from Albany Law School, and an LL.B from China University of Political Science and Law. PDJ

KATHLEEN FLYNN PETERSON PARTNER ROBINS KAPLAN LLP

Company: Robins Kaplan LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Marty Lueck, Chairman of the Board Employees: 613 Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota

MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY DEVOTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE Kathleen Flynn Peterson has built a reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent medical malpractice trial attorneys.

Flynn Peterson has obtained numerous multi-million dollar court verdicts and settlements, several of them record-setting, to secure justice for her clients. She lives by the words As a partner with Robins Kaplan “just do it” and says “you can never LLP, she has devoted her career to providing advocacy for people dealing go wrong by being genuine, gracious, grateful, and generous.” with pain, suffering, and loss. With her extensive background in both Examples of some of her cases the medical and legal sectors she is include securing a $4.6 million making a difference to her clients and verdict for the family of a woman their families. who died from a post-partum hemorrhage during childbirth.

Her career started three decades Another was obtaining a $4 million ago as a registered nurse known for settlement to cover lost income speaking up against institutional and rehabilitative care for a client problems in the medical system to who suffered cognitive impairment garner the best care for her patients. because her seizures were not treated Drawn to the law after serving as a correctly. Others include resolving a juror, today she advocates against case at mediation for $9.5 million for health care injustices, representing a woman who suffered a catastrophic individuals and families who have experienced injury or death as a result brain injury following a failed tracheostomy, and obtaining a $5.6 of medical negligence. million settlement for a three-year-

old child who suffered a brain injury during birth.

An equally passionate leader in her community, Flynn Peterson has served as head of the Minnesota chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and was the national president of the American Association for Justice, where she was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. She recently joined the Lawyers’ Committee for the National Center for State Courts, a non-profit organization formed by the nation’s state chief justices devoted to improving the administration of justice through leadership and service to the state courts. She also serves as president of the Pound Civil Justice Institute and is on the board of regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers. She holds a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. PDJ

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Rocana Computer/IT Operations Software Omer Trajman 60 San Francisco, California

RACHEL TAYLOR

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS ROCANA

CONNECTING DIVERSE TEAMS TO BUSINESS OUTCOMES Referred to as the mayor of Silicon Valley, Rachel Taylor is known for unlocking the potential of early stage technology companies.

global head of talent acquisition and development at Cloudera, where she doubled headcount within a year to meet the company’s aggressive business goals. She has held a variety Taylor has a history of helping technology companies translate their of other leadership roles at technology companies including Clearside, vision into executable operating Meraki (acquired by Cisco), plans and talent strategies. As vice president of operations of Rocana, she Peakstream (acquired by Google), is accountable for day-to-day business Riverbed, and VMware. operations, focusing on scaling the Taylor’s understanding of organization to achieve its goals and technology as a driver for disruption ultimately the corporate bottom line. made her a leader from an early age, writing her first computer program in Her colleagues say she builds second grade, graduating high school diverse teams and forges strong at 14, and college at 19. She has built cultures that become the foundation her career working with co-founders for growth and differentiation. “I who were passionate about building believe that a diverse company full great companies with superior of great people and a well-defined mission will find success in whatever technology products. path they choose,” Taylor said.

Her ability to build companies with great cultures has played a pivotal role in propelling various Silicon Valley companies to success.

Prior to joining Rocana, Taylor was 160

“Running operations is in my blood! I’ve always had a strong propensity to be the one running things and organizing others to achieve the desired outcome, while ensuring everyone’s needs are

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

met and they are happy,” she said.

Taylor believes diversity is a core requirement in building a great company and directly impacts its overall potential. She said employees must feel like it's their company, they have a voice, and they care about its success as much as the founders.

Rocana is 72 percent diverse across age, gender, race, and orientation.

Taylor said all leaders, especially female leaders, should have grit, resilience, and tenacity. “Grit to push through the challenging obstacles in business that many women still face. Resilience to bounce back and continue tackling new problems without being weighed down by previous issues; and tenacity to continue fighting the fight even when things are complicated,” she said.

“Figure it out, get what you need to accomplish the task, get it done and move on to the next challenge. You are the master of your destiny; don’t let others determine your fate - own it,” she added. PDJ

THIS IS PARKER The challenge

Leveraging creativity and unique skill sets to thrive

Parker employees are the foundation of the company’s success, and their collective knowledge is shaped by a remarkably diverse range of cultures and experiences. Parker is committed to building an inclusive workforce that respects and embraces the unique perspectives of all people.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. Aerospace & Defense Kelly Ortberg (Robert K. Ortberg) 20,000 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

DOROTHEA HENDERSON STAFF VICE PRESIDENT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND OPERATIONS ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.

VISIONARY EXECUTIVE BRINGS GLOBAL BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE As an executive with a $5.24 billion multinational company, Dorothea Henderson is a visionary IT leader bringing a global perspective to the relationships between information technology, business and operations.

As Rockwell Collins’ staff vice president of Technology Services and Operations, within the Information Management Systems (IMS) division, Henderson is responsible for corporate strategy and execution of IMS enterprise wide technology shared services, oversight of global technology, cybersecurity, mission critical facilities and the 7x24x365 network operations center. Her high performance team is accountable for an architecture comprised of highly integrated applications and global networks providing fully managed services to airlines and business aircraft operators around the world.

Henderson’s colleagues describe her as a collaborative leader who effectively directs her team to strive for their best. They say she 162

utilizes her IT management and financial expertise to quickly analyze opportunities to drive down costs and grow revenue.

to lead in a collaborative way, while being decisive and acting swiftly. Her colleagues say her actions reflect her words as she doesn't hesitate to make the hard decisions leaders need to Her leadership has successfully make for the business. She lives by the guided technology groups though words “never allow fear of failure to many changes throughout the years.

She has experience in leading business dictate decisions or choices.” units as well as CIO organizations, Henderson said being a woman in offering a unique perspective on her profession has been challenging, leveraging technology to expand but more due to internal conflict margins, optimize operations, and versus external factors. “I have been maintain strong relationships with very fortunate in my career to have internal business peers. sponsors and strong supporters. I learned over time that acting like Henderson has worked in a wide a man was not required to be a variety of executive roles within successful leader,” she said. the IMS organization. She was a senior manager of Global Products, director of Aviation Networks, director of Corporate Technology Business Planning, senior director of Corporate Applications and Business Planning, and now staff vice president of Technology Services and Operations. Henderson said the most important leadership quality a woman should have is the ability

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Henderson sits on a variety of boards and earlier this year was named to the board of the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council and the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation. She holds a BS in finance and accounting from Pennsylvania State University. PDJ

PEOPLE ARE THE POWER BEHIND NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL, AND DIVERSITY MAKES US BETTER.

We all have a voice and a role in cementing a work environment where diverse people, perspectives and ideas enable our leaders and our workforce to achieve great things for our clients. Northwestern Mutual congratulates Kimberley Goode on being named among the 2016 Women Worth Watching. Her vision and guidance contribute to our ongoing success.

Kimberley Goode Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries.

Delivering

ACCOLADES.

SRP congratulates this year’s Women Worth Watching award recipients, including our own Lori Singleton. Thank you for inspiring us.

LORI SINGLETON

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS SUPPORT SALT RIVER PROJECT Company: Salt River Project Industry: Public Utility CEO: Mark Bonsall Employees: 5,021 Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona

initiatives through SRP’s Trees for Change program that helps prevent wildfires and revitalizes the lands they destroy.

Since 2010, more than 1.3 million acres of Arizona forests have been destroyed by devastating wildfires. In partnership with the National Forest Foundation, SRP has planted about a million trees on 2,560 acres of forest land through the program, which is funded by SRP customers who pledge $3 or more on their monthly bills and SRP matching donations up to $200,000 annually.

SRP DIRECTOR FOCUSES ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY As a director with one of the nation’s largest public power utilities, Lori Singleton is responsible for programs that have an impact in the world.

At SRP, Singleton is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability initiatives, including rooftop solar and programs that help reforest land destroyed by fire, support solar for local nonprofits, Singleton is director of Customer Programs and Operations Support at encourage the adoption of electric Salt River Project (SRP), a community vehicles and help customers green up their energy. She built her career based non-profit utility. As a 38around a passion for responsible year employee of SRP, she’s a wellenvironmental protection and known advocate for the sustainable sustainability initiatives. management of natural resources and protection of the environment Under one of her programs, who is valued for balancing the utility Singleton spearheads SRP’s Solar customer’s needs with protecting for Nonprofits, which provides solar the natural world. SRP is the oldest photovoltaic installations and has multipurpose federal reclamation helped reduce operational costs for project in the country, supplying cost- 57 Valley nonprofit organizations effective electric and water services to including Habitat for Humanity, about a million customers throughout Child Crisis Center and the Phoenix large portions of Arizona.

Zoo. She also oversees revitalization

Singleton has expanded the program with the Trees for Touchdowns campaign in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals football team.

SRP funds planting 100 pine trees per touchdown. With the team finishing last season with a record 59 touchdowns, it resulted in SRP planting 5,900 additional trees. The program is in full swing again this year with the kickoff of the Cardinals’ season.

Singleton serves on the Board of Directors for Arizona Forward and Liberty Wildlife. She has served on the Governor’s Solar Energy Advisory Task Force, the City of Phoenix Commission on the Environment, Board Chair for Valley Forward Association, and Board Chair for Audubon of Arizona.

SRP is the umbrella name for two separate entities: The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District and the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association.

One is a state electrical utility for the Phoenix Metropolitan area and the other is the primary water provider for much of central Arizona. PDJ

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PENELOPE DELGADILLO VALENCIA

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL AUDIENCE & STRATEGIC PARTNER MARKETING SAP Company: SAP

Industry:

Computer Software

CEO:

Bill McDermott

Employees: 78,230

Headquarters:

Walldorf, Germany

DRIVING SOFTWARE STRATEGIES AROUND THE WORLD As senior vice president of global audience marketing at SAP, Penelope “Penny” Delgadillo Valencia serves as a cloud evangelist and change agent, driving integrated marketing strategies across SAP's portfolio to customers and partners around the world.

Throughout her career, Valencia has been at the forefront of technology trends and has built strategic alliances and managed acquisitions for a wide range of companies. At Microsoft, she drove adoption of Developer and Platform Evangelism, Windows Azure, Office 365, Windows Since joining SAP in 2015, Valencia Intune, CRM Online, Unified Communications, Live Meeting and has brought together unique talents Exchange Hosted Services. from across the world in a global marketing team of experts who Earlier in her career, she managed are driving customer centricity. marketing initiatives for a number of An award-winning marketing start-ups in emerging technologies, leader, Valencia is well regarded as including Affinity Internet (now an intercultural enthusiast who is ValueWeb), an early entry to the defining the next chapter of SAP’s web-hosting market, and FrontBridge growth and audience engagement in Technologies, a messaging security the marketplace. She is recognized services company which was acquired for delivering game-changing

by Microsoft to become Microsoft customer and partner initiatives in Exchange Hosted Services. the cloud technology and connected Focused on creating an inclusive customer markets. environment, Valencia has been 166

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instrumental in accelerating the careers of women in SAP. She emphasizes continuous learning and development in her own organization and mentors numerous women at SAP worldwide to reach their potential and career aspirations. Her advice to women is “explore and develop skills and do not be afraid to take calculated risks along the way.”

She lives by the words of Winston Churchill “attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

Valencia joined SAP with the mandate of creating a world-class global audience marketing function.

Today, she oversees teams responsible for end-to-end engagement with lineof-business, industry and technology buying audiences, including thought leadership, campaigns and programs, services and support, strategic partners and influencer relations. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

SAP Computer Software Bill McDermott 78,230 Walldorf, Germany

ZARINA LAM STANFORD HEAD OF MARKETING ASIA-PACIFIC AND JAPAN SAP

TRANSLATING BUSINESS INTO MODERN MARKETING As head of marketing for one of the largest enterprise software companies in the world, Zarina Lam Stanford is responsible for developing and implementing SAP’s marketing strategy across the Asia-Pacific and Japan region.

Her colleagues say her skills are exceptional for translating business needs into modern marketing strategies. Her ability to mediate and connect across cultures is a unique trait that they say make her an absolute rock-star in a continuously globalizing world.

Stanford adopts a customercentric and insight-driven approach in her go-to-market for SAP in the region, overseeing audience, industry, and portfolio marketing across all customer segments in support of the entire SAP business.

The German multinational company makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer

relations. It has regional offices in 130 countries and customers in 190.

Stanford is a recognized change agent who spearheads business and transformational initiatives through imagining the possible.

She is an industry thought leader promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and leading thought provoking modern marketing initiatives from incubation to mainstream.

A seasoned industry veteran, she has held various sales and marketing executive positions in North America and Asia. Prior to joining SAP, she was vice president of marketing at IBM, where she oversaw strategy, marketing, and communications for Growth Markets and Asia Pacific.

short time span has driven impactful change around business results and people impact in the marketing organization.

She is a champion for industry diversity and inclusion initiatives, and serves as Bilateral Committee Chairperson for Asia Pacific-India Cooperation at the global women’s chamber ALL Ladies League. She believes in taking risks, thinking bold and helping others see what is possible with a clear vision. “Think big and envision the possible,” she said.

Stanford is a graduate of the Asian Advanced Leadership Program from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. She holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and a BA in Journalism Her colleagues say she leads by from the University of North Texas. example, continuously delivers excellence and knows how to raise the She resides in Singapore. PDJ bar. She joined SAP last year and in a Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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LINDA CONKLIN

Company: Seasons Industry: Interior Design CEO: Linda H. Conklin Employees: 8 Headquarters: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

PRESIDENT, CEO SEASONS

L

inda Conklin is known along the Eastern seaboard for inspiration. Over the past two decades, the design expert has earned a reputation for creating innovative spaces with an inspiring, modern, and timeless appeal.

Conklin’s clients say design is part of her DNA. Some say she knows them better than they know themselves and her unique designs have an imaginative, intelligent personality that brings them to life.

As founder and CEO of Seasons, Conklin says every space is unique and taking the initiative to really get to know her clients brings uniformity and flow to the atmosphere of her projects. Her work spans residential, commercial and hospitality spaces.

Conklin’s colleagues say her enthusiasm is contagious. She thrives on innovation and creative energy, with her work having a powerful impact on the environment she is working within. She said this requires building a unique team around background and expertise, cultural experiences and thinking styles for each individual project. It also entails coordinating with architects, manufacturers and builders for “For some clients, great designs creating the right atmosphere. evolve from stepping out of your “Diversity improves critical thinking,” comfort zone. For others it’s Conklin said. about simplicity, clean lines, and Operating from Seasons, modernization,” Conklin said. While her showroom on Hilton Head technologies advance, styles evolve, Island, Conklin’s vast design and challenges come, ultimately she expertise is in luxury real estate says design centers around people along the Eastern seaboard. She and how they feel and interact. has spearheaded unique projects, She knows diversity is a catalyst including glass houses, round for innovation, through leadership houses, and premium space in New and creativity. With female design York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, as well North Carolina, South Carolina, and firm leadership at about 25 percent worldwide, Conklin’s business is Georgia. Many are on the cuttinggender diverse. Her teams differ from edge of the voice of the interior project to project and are valued design industry nationwide.

INSPIRING THROUGH DESIGN

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as rich in cognitive diversity, with differing backgrounds, experiences and perspectives pulled together to achieve the goals of a specific project.

She works with other designers, industry manufacturers, trade associations and market centers around the world. She also supports and advocates for education, design excellence, leadership, accreditation, and outreach to enhance value and understanding of the design profession. Her advice to other women leaders is “believe in yourself and let your inspiration shine through in everything you do.” PDJ

DEBORAH GUTIERREZ SCHLOSS

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS SODEXO, INC.

Company: Sodexo Industry: Quality of Life Services CEO: Lorna Donatone Employees: 120,749 Headquarters: Gaithersburg, Maryland

SODEXO OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Deborah Gutierrez Schloss manages about $200 million in revenue as Regional Vice President of Operations with Sodexo, Inc., the world leader in quality of life services.

She’s known for bringing people together to solve complex health care delivery issues in a caring and collaborative atmosphere. Her colleagues say she has an inspiring approach for reducing complex issues into basic concepts. They also say she influences others to find meaning and purpose in their profession and directs them toward a path where passion and commitment evolve into outstanding leaders.

As an experienced operations executive serving the company’s Southwest market, she is responsible for health care operations in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Schloss provides leadership to 200 managers and about 1,000 associates in a company with $9.2 billion in revenues Schloss discovered her present that touches 75 million customers in career was what she wanted to do 80 countries every day. when she found herself making

a difference in the lives of others.

Much of what molds her into the professional she is comes from skills she inherited growing up in a large family. Nine brothers and sisters taught her negotiation tactics, her mother taught her about hard work, and her father instilled taking the time to celebrate life. She lives by the words family first and said her faith and spirituality are a daily reminder to treat each day as the last, and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Born in El Paso, Texas, and fluent in Spanish, Schloss is one of the founders of the employee business resource group for Latinos, Sodexo Organization of Latinos, and has served as its chair and executive advisor. She launched her career in late 1989 as a Registered Dietitian with Marriot Management Services (which ultimately merged with Sodexo) and has propelled into various senior level positions during her lengthy tenure with Sodexo.

Schloss holds a BA in human biology from Stanford University, a Master’s in nutrition from the University of Incarnate Word, and is a Registered Dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. PDJ

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TRACY-GENE DURKIN DIRECTOR STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C.

Company: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Industry: Legal CEO: Michael B. Ray, Managing Director Employees: 400 Headquarters: Washington, DC

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN PATENT LAW With a global reputation for excellence in design patent law, Tracy Durkin is sought out by leading consumer product companies for her expertise with utility and design patents, trademarks and copyrights.

Durkin is a director with Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, where she heads the firms’ Mechanical Patent and Trademark Group. With three decades of experience obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights, she has evolved into a leading authority with a deep understanding of utility and design patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Back in 1994, she was the first woman elected equity director to the firm and is the first woman to serve on its executive committee, where she has served three terms. As a leader in the legal community, Durkin is a past president of the Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the Women's Bar Association Foundation, two 170

organizations in which she continues active membership.

meetings, it still seems strange in this day and age that more women are not Colleagues say she leads by example there too,” she said. with setting high standards for Durkin is a vice chair of the professionalism and ethics. “I tell Industrial Designs Committee of all young associates that the key to the IP Section of the American Bar making it to the top as a lawyer in Association, and is on the board of private practice is to realize it is a the Legal Aid Society of the District career not a job, and that you have to of Columbia. She is past vice chair create your own path,” Durkin said. of the Industrial Designs Committee “The more you are dependent on the of the Intellectual Property Owners success or failure of others, the less Association, and past chair of the control you have over your Industrial Designs Committee of the own destiny.”

American Intellectual Property Law Durkin is highly ranked by respected, Association. Durkin has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law at George national and international legal publications. Most recently, The National Mason University Law School and has spoken internationally on topics Law Journal recognized her as an such as the interplay between design "Intellectual Property Trailblazer." patents and trade dress, protection of She describes being a woman in the user interface and the user experience, legal profession as lonely. “I am still and The Hague Agreement. often the only women in the room She holds a BS in textile at important meetings. While I feel manufacturing from Philadelphia privileged to have made it to a level University and a law degree from the in my career where I am at those George Washington University. PDJ

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

TRAILBLAZER IN PATENT LITIGATION

Company: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Industry: Legal CEO: Michael B. Ray Managing Director Employees: 400 Headquarters: Washington, DC

Dr. Eldora Ellison is a trailblazer in patent litigation representing notable clients at the Washington D.C. intellectual property firm Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. She is a director of the firms’ biotech/chemical and litigation practice groups, co-chair of the firms' PTO litigation practice, and a member of its executive committee.

She was the firm's first AfricanAmerican director and also the first to serve on the executive committee.

In matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Ellison has led the firm's representation of notable clients, such as ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of cancer treatment drugs, and Laboratorios Silanes S.A., a Mexicobased pharmaceutical company.

Earlier in her career, she served as lead counsel on the first pharmaceutical inter partes review (IPR) before the PTAB. Today, she has approximately 60 IPR matters before the PTAB, and likely sets a record in the biotechnology and organic chemistry technology space.

The foundation of Ellison's litigation practice is built upon the strength of her early work in patent prosecution and her extensive experience handling patent interferences, district court litigation, transactional matters, and serving as an expert witness. She represents a wide array of clients in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, molecular biology, therapeutic methods, diagnostic assays, analytical instruments, immunology, virology, bacteriology, and vaccines.

As a recognized leading practitioner in the life sciences, she is a go to source for reporters. She is

DR. ELDORA ELLISON

DIRECTOR STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C. also a prolific writer who is published in numerous technical and legal articles in a broad array of legal and industry publications.

Last year, The National Law Journal recognized Ellison as one of its top 50 Litigation Trailblazers and Law360 named her an MVP in Life Sciences. Managing Intellectual Property nominated her for its PTAB Litigator of the Year award, and has named her an IP Star for the past four years. LMG Life Sciences nominated her for its Patent Prosecutor of the Year award, and has named her a Life Sciences Star three times. Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000

rankings include her among the world's leading patent professionals.

“Being a woman in my profession has been challenging at times, since this profession is rather male-dominated, but it has also been rewarding,” she said. “I like showing both men and women what women can do when they have the opportunity and put their minds to it.”

Ellison holds a BS in biology from Haverford College, a PhD in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology from Cornell University and a law degree from Georgetown University. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Stikeman Elliott LLP Legal Jay Kellerman (Managing Partner) 1,100 Toronto, Canada

RAMANDEEP GREWAL SENIOR COUNSEL STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP

CANADIAN CORPORATE FINANCE LAWYER INTEGRATING LAW AND COMMUNITY As senior counsel in the Corporate Group of Stikeman Elliott, Ramandeep Grewal has expertise in a wide array of corporate finance matters.

and client development with excellence in legal services. She lends her expertise as a writer and presenter on a variety of topics relating to corporate finance and governance, as a lecturer for the Master of Finance She has counseled Canadian and international issuers and underwriters Program at the Schulich School of Business and as the co-editor of on a range of capital markets transactions and securities regulatory the Corporate Governance Report matters, including directors of public newsletter. She is also an original founder and a regular contributor and private issuers, dealers and to the firm’s securities blog, advisors, funds and asset managers. www.canadiansecurities.law.com.

She also advises on capital market infrastructure issues, including stock She said being a woman in the legal exchanges and trading facilities. profession has been an opportunity to approach things from a different She is a leader in the Stikeman perspective. “While not without its Elliott Global Securities Group, where her colleagues say she leads by challenges, the practice of law and in particular the current evolution example, acting as a trusted advisor in corporate finance, M&A, corporate in the practice, presents unique governance, and capital markets. They opportunities for women,” she said.

“Every challenge is made up of say she is never satisfied with the status quo, and is dedicated to making small parts.”

She is a mentor and advocate on behalf of young professionals, a champion for the empowerment of women and diversity, and working to build leadership capacity both within her firm and the community at large.

Grewal is instrumental in developing the firm’s leading-edge knowledge management program, and pioneering significant initiatives that integrate marketing, technology

Grewal holds a BAS from York University, a LLB from the University of Windsor, and a law degree from the University of Detroit. PDJ

the practice of law better.

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Being rooted in a strong tradition of community service, Grewal is compassionate about giving back, both professionally and personally.

She stands as a pillar of both the Sikh, South Asian, and legal communities.

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Grewal recently served as the co-chair of the Sikh Heritage Month Foundation of Ontario, an organization that celebrates Sikh heritage and culture though the lens of second generation artists and innovators. She sits on the Board of Advisors of the Sikh Research Institute, for which she has developed and implemented a firstever governance training program for administrators of faith-based community organizations throughout North America. She is also a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Securities Advisory Committee of the Ontario Securities Commission.

SHARON NELLES

PARTNER SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

Company: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Joseph Shenker (Chairman) Employees: 805 lawyers Headquarters: New York, New York

TRAILBLAZING SECURITIES LAWYER CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY Influential securities lawyer Sharon Nelles continues to blaze a path for the next generation of female lawyers while counseling on some of the highest profile securities cases in the world.

A partner with Sullivan & Cromwell in the firms’ Litigation Group and member of its Executive Committee, Nelles has been trailblazing for decades. As one of the most influential women in securities law today, her approach provides global resolution strategies for major corporations needing to navigate myriad legal proceedings.

In 2015, she helped negotiate a then unprecedented $13 billion settlement on behalf of JPMorgan, ending huge swath of mortgage-backed securities related litigation.

wake of the financial crisis, and now working with Volkswagen on TDI matters,” she said.

Law discussion series to move the conversation beyond the usual discourse around work-life balance.

Despite her heavy caseload involving some of the firm’s largest clients and most complicated matters, she is steadfast in a commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly as it relates to issues that affect women and LGBT lawyers. She said the most important quality a woman leader should have is the ability to trust her own voice. “Never be afraid to ask the tough questions,” she said. When she launched her career with the firm 20 years ago, it was rare to be a woman litigation associate who both had children and worked full-time.

She’s also a member of the firms’ Diversity Committee, under which she spearheaded the founding sponsorship of Out Leadership, an organization of senior LGBT and ally leaders in the financial services, legal, and insurance professions, who collaborate on initiatives that impact business results, develop talent, and drive LGBT equality forward.

As a member of the firms’ Management Committee, Nelles is active with the Women’s Initiative “I have been fortunate to have Committee, which seeks to enhance had some amazing opportunities in the experience of women lawyers my career, including serving as trial at the firm by supporting efforts to counsel for Microsoft in antitrust class recruit, retain, and advance their actions, working with multiple clients careers. Under her leadership, the facing an onslaught of litigation in the firm established the Women in

Nelles represents pro bono clients who have experienced on-campus sexual assault and has been appointed by the American Law Institute to its project to develop procedural frameworks for addressing sexual and gender-based misconduct on campus.

She holds a bachelor degree from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s from New York University, and a law degree from Boston College Law School. PDJ

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Making It Happen Lincoln Financial congratulates Jamie Ohl for being named one of this year’s Women Worth Watching. It’s your perseverance and hard work that continue to make a difference in the world and inspire women everywhere to take charge of their future. Thank you for all you do.

To learn more about Lincoln Financial, please visit LFG.com.

Life | Income | Retirement | Employee Benefits | Advice Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and insurance company affiliates, including The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, and in New York, Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY. Variable products distributed by broker-dealer-affiliates. Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc., Radnor, PA. 174 and investment advisory services offered through other affiliates. © 2016 Lincoln National Corporation. LCN-1549823-071916 Securities

VANESSA A. SCOTT

PARTNER CHIEF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP

Company: Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Industry: Legal CEO: Managing Partner Mark D. Wasserman Employees: 761 Headquarters: Washington, DC

ERISA LAWYER FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY As an adviser to some of the world’s most-recognized companies, Vanessa Scott is passionate about helping both clients and diverse attorneys achieve their goals.

Scott is a partner in Sutherland Asbill & Brennan’s Washington, DC, Tax Practice Group, where she specializes in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). With more than 15 years of legal experience, Scott has worked with and counseled many of the nation’s leading elected officials and companies. She testifies before Congress and provides educational briefings to Capitol Hill staff on complex issues.

Scott is the firms’ chief diversity and inclusion officer. Her colleagues say she inspires others by building transformative relationships and working to increase diversity through the hiring process. She also leads Sutherland’s cross-office Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which develops strategic partnerships with the firms’ clients to help increase diversity throughout the profession.

Scott is a Nolan Fellow of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and a former Chair of the Section’s Diversity Committee, where she helped develop a new program aimed at increasing diverse attorney engagement. Among her numerous Known for her industry intelligence activities, she is an annual speaker on and business savvy, her clients include compensation issues for the national global insurers, airlines, and financial Corporate Counsel Women of Color Conference and she also serves as services organizations. She’s also a an adjunct professor at Georgetown sought after speaker on complex University Law Center. issues relating to both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Scott holds an A.B. from Duke Act and the Department of Labor’s University, a LL.M. with distinction revised definition of investment from Georgetown University Law advice fiduciary.

Center and a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. PDJ In addition to her legal practice, Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Syniverse Mobile Technology Stephen C. Gray 2,500+ Tampa, Florida

MARY CLARK

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER SYNIVERSE

ADAPTING TO GLOBAL MARKET CHALLENGES With 25 years of experience in the mobile technology sector, Mary Clark knows how to adapt to constant change while successfully advancing the use of global insight to better understand consumer desires.

Earlier this year, she led research across eight countries to measure consumer attitudes toward mobile privacy and how it affects the ability of brands and operators to offer personalized services. The data revealed that the majority of As chief marketing officer consumers don’t trust brands to for Syniverse, Clark leads safeguard their data, and Clark is product marketing, corporate working with industry experts to communications, branding, digital strategy, strategic events, and industry overcome privacy concerns. relations. The company connects As an influential female C-level mobile service providers, ISPs, executive in a male-dominated enterprises, and app providers in industry, Clark serves as a role model nearly 200 countries. for the next generation of female talent. She actively shares advice with Over the years, Clark has been other women within her networks instrumental in helping operators to help propel their careers. Her recognize and successfully adapt colleagues say she is passionate about to ever-present market challenges, encouraging women to have the drive revenue, and deliver seamless mindset of a business owner and not consumer experiences. She has helped shape the future of the mobile just a member of the business. When asked about the important qualities industry by working with service providers and enterprises to adapt to of a woman leader, Clark said selfconfidence tops the list. market challenges and is known for successfully bringing teams together to achieve and overcome obstacles.

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“The belief that that you can do anything can lead you to accomplish

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

things out of a sheer force of will,” she said. “I’ve learned how to overcome adversity by not focusing on adversity, but by focusing on doing the job as well as possible. To be successful, women should focus first on getting the job done, whatever it is, and make excellence in their performance their biggest priority.”

As a result of her role in advancing the use of insight to better understand consumer desires, Clark has been widely recognized across the technology sector.

Among her numerous accolades, she was recently named among the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council, identified among Mobile Women to Watch in 2016 by Mobile Marketer, named to the 50 CMOs to Watch by Global Telecoms Business, and recognized among the Most Innovative CMOs in the World by Hot Topics. PDJ

LINDA M. MCAVOY

PRESIDENT TEREX FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

Company: Terex Corporation Industry: Material Lifting and Handling CEO: John Garrison Employees: 20,000 Headquarters: Westport, Connecticut

EXECUTING STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING VALUE With three decades of leadership in business operations and development, Linda McAvoy knows what it takes to maximize value.

McAvoy is president of Terex Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Terex Corporation that provides financial products and services to assist in the acquisition of equipment.

Terex is a $6.5 billion business with worldwide manufacturing operations for lifting and material handling solutions for a variety of industries, including construction, infrastructure, energy, mining, recycling, transportation, and utilities.

McAvoy leads the execution of strategies and operational plans to support corporate goals. She’s

accountable for maximizing shareholder value by increasing profitability, finance penetration, enhancing new business volume, and by optimizing portfolio performance and funding models.

She operates in a competitive global industrial environment and her colleagues say she’s instrumental in enhancing transaction structuring and global product capability. She joined Terex eight years ago to oversee the company’s domestic operations. Today, her advice to other women rising through the ranks is “work hard, do your best, know your strengths and weaknesses, surround yourself with people from whom you can learn.”

She identifies the most important quality of a woman leader as authenticity. “You need to be comfortable with who you are and the decisions you make,” she said. “Being a woman in my profession has been great. It was historically more of a male dominated profession but it is constantly changing and always offers opportunities and challenges. The industry underwent many changes and you had to be flexible and creative to succeed,” she added.

McAvoy holds a BA in marketing from Fairfield University, and an MBA from Sacred Heart University.

PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Textron Systems Aerospace and Defense Ellen Lord 4,600 Providence, Rhode Island

KIM SCHLEIFF

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEXTRON SYSTEMS As Textron Systems’ vice president of marketing and communications, Kim Schleiff is responsible for developing and executing the worldwide communications strategy for the $1.6 billion multiindustry leader.

With ultimate goals of profitable growth and expansion for the company’s eight operating units, Schleiff focuses on strategically marketing Textron Systems’ innovative products and services that meet the needs of both military and commercial customers.

Her colleagues identify her as a results-oriented leader with exceptional people skills who knows how to pioneer change and manage teams to achieve results.

Schleiff was promoted two years ago to her executive marketing and communications role and previously held various positions conceptualizing and implementing marketing and sales efforts for various Textron Inc. businesses.

EXECUTING GLOBAL STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS In 2008, she accepted a managerial role working with leadership teams as a thought partner in identifying, investigating and addressing key strategic growth initiatives to drive financial performance.

Five years ago, she accepted a channel manager position at Textron’s Greenlee business where she developed and implemented product marketing and commercialization plans for new and legacy products in the electrical, telecommunication Schleiff joined Textron Specialized and utility markets. Shortly after, Vehicles in 2004, where she led crossshe was promoted to director of functional teams, focusing on bringing marketing, communications and a customer insight voice to the new retail sales where she led a team product development process. focused on driving customer demand, Two years later, she successfully distribution growth and process mentored 16 Green Belts to certification optimization. In her current position, with an average cycle time of six she develops effective marketing and months and $1.9 million in savings. communication strategies focusing 178

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

on the growth and profitability of Textron Systems’ eight operating units. Her colleagues describe her as an intuitive and remarkable leader who motivates her team through her positive attitude and dedication.

Schleiff expressed that becoming a Six Sigma Blackbelt was her biggest career leap because it exposed her to areas of the business outside of marketing, including manufacturing, finance, strategic sourcing and service branch networks. “It introduced me to lean principles and provided me the opportunity to drive change and lead cross-functional teams,” she said.

Schleiff holds a BA in English and computer application programming from the University of Notre Dame. PDJ

Leadership is inclusive KPMG LLP believes our people must be as diverse as the clients and communities we serve, and that their unique backgrounds, experiences, and talents are essential to our success.

We are proud that, at every level of our firm, our professionals take ownership for creating an inclusive and diverse culture.

Congratulations to KPMG’s own Tracy Benard, National Managing Partner, Advisory; and to all of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 2016 Women Worth Watching.

kpmg.com

© 2016 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International. NDPPS 594294

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Disneyland Paris Tourism Catherine Powell 15,000 Marne-la-Vallée, France

CATHERINE POWELL

PRÉSIDENTE OF EURO DISNEY S.A.S. DISNEYLAND PARIS

LEADER DRIVING SUCCESS AT DISNEYLAND PARIS As a leader within one of the world's most admired companies, The Walt Disney Company, Catherine Powell is widely respected both internally and within international communities.

Taking the reins this summer as Présidente of Euro Disney S.A.S., the management company of Disneyland Paris, Powell demonstrates boundless passion, energy and curiosity. Her colleagues say she is continually pushing boundaries and inspiring others to success.

strategy; coordinating, leading and expanding all company business divisions; overseeing Disney global franchises including Pixar, Princess, Marvel, and Star Wars; and seeking out new business opportunities in the region.

A key focus for Powell has been consumer engagement and creating innovative opportunities for fans to connect with Disney's stories, characters and brands through both physical and digital experiences. She has led the development of multiple Disney consumer activations with organizations such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney and Melbourne, The State Theatre, Tennis Australia, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

She was also elected to the Chief Executive Women in Australia and serves as a member of the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Powell is an experienced Disney leader with over 12 years in global roles throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Most recently, she was managing director in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), driving extraordinary growth at Disney during her tenure and leading the region to be one of the company's top performers among developed countries. In ANZ, she was Earlier in her career, she led the accountable for driving the company's Disney Media Distribution division 180

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

in EMEA; served as Disney Media Distribution's senior vice president, Sales - UK, Ireland, Nordic, Benelux and Israel; and prior to that, the executive director - Sales, UK and Ireland. Before joining Disney, Powell worked for BBC Worldwide for seven years, holding various senior TV sales roles across the Middle East and Europe.

During her career at Disney, her leadership has consistently inspired her teams to deliver results and initiatives that set new benchmarks for success. Powell is seen as a role model to many who have worked with her, and in particular, to other female leaders. “I think it is critical that female leaders have the ability to engage and empower women to believe in themselves and be great at what they do; and to have the qualities of positivity and optimism.

Never be afraid of thinking differently and taking risks,” she said. PDJ

TRICIA WILBER

EVP, CMO AND GM OF DISNEY MEDIA +, EMEA THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, EMEA

Company: The Walt Disney Company Industry: Media and Entertainment CEO: Bob Iger Employees: 180,000 Headquarters: Burbank, California

STRATEGIC LEADER DRIVING RESULTS ACROSS EMEA Tricia Wilber is a top strategic leader who is widely respected across global markets.

managing regional business plans for key franchises and properties.

She also leads Disney Media Plus orchestrating EMEA's Advertising Sales business and third party partnerships.

advertising sales, marketing, and promotions for Disney’s kid-driven and family-inclusive TV platforms, its online offerings, its kid-focused As chief marketing officer for publishing business and its kid-and The Walt Disney Company EMEA, mom-focused radio and publishing Wilber is responsible for the creation, platforms. Her other roles include implementation and oversight During her tenure with Disney, of Disney's integrated marketing Wilber has held various roles driving senior vice president of advertising sales and promotion for Disney ABC organization throughout Europe, the significant change from businessCable Networks Group, vice president Middle East, and Africa. She has been led leadership into an integrated instrumental to the implementation approach to marketing and franchises. of national accounts for ABC Cable Networks Group, and vice president of the 'one voice, one vision' model in Her colleagues describe her as a of business development with ABC EMEA, as well as driving partnerships highly respected leader and change Cable Networks Group. across the region. agent with an ability to bring people together for successfully driving Wilber said her biggest career As a member of Disney’s EMEA change in business models. Her move was relocating to London after executive management team, Wilber well-rounded career has provided a career exclusively in the U.S. and helps set the strategic direction for her the opportunity to create, plan, taking the CMO job for a region the company, which she ultimately market, sell, and ultimately lead with over 40 countries. “What I translates into marketing strategies, business operations that deliver learned from it was that there are priorities, budgets, and plans for profitable products. many important differences between driving execution regionally cultures and the way people interpret and locally.

Earlier in her career, Wilber was the same message however, the with the Disney Media Advertising She oversees the franchise underlying human characteristics are Sales and Marketing Group, where management organization, which surprisingly the same,” she said. PDJ she led the structure that drove is dedicated to building and Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Sciences Marc Casper 53,000 Waltham, Massachusetts

SUE RICE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

BUILDING A CULTURE OF CHANGE Senior executive Sue Rice is spearheading change that is driving engagement across a $17 billion company with more than 50,000 employees doing business in 50 countries.

As senior vice president of human resources at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rice is a champion of inclusion. Her colleagues say she is actively creating an environment where all employees are able to bring their whole selves to work each day.

Rice takes a broader approach to traditional diversity and inclusion initiatives by focusing on less visible elements, including communication and working styles, and conflict resolution techniques. By valuing and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion, she is enabling all employees to contribute their unique perspectives and fully leverage their individual talents.

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“Being part of a company whose mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer gives me the ability to realize my best, personally and professionally,” Rice said.

development and retention, created supplier diversity and – ultimately – customer engagement.

Rice joined the company a decade ago as vice president of human resources for the Analytical As the senior sponsor of the Technologies business. Within a year, company’s six employee resource she took on additional responsibility groups, Rice challenges employees for HR leadership in Asia-Pacific and at all levels of the organization to Emerging Markets, and three years "open their eyes" and understand ago she assumed her current role. She the business case for diversity and said the turning point in her career inclusion. The power of inclusion-first was realizing she could influence thinking is that it fosters behaviors positive change for employees that that lead to better business results, would have a direct correlation with enabling employees to more fully business performance. engage in their work and sparking Rice holds a master’s degree in more innovative thinking toward public health from Yale University achieving the company’s goals and and a bachelor’s degree in biology overall mission. from Bates College. PDJ By supporting the strategy set forth by the Office of Global Diversity & Inclusion, Thermo Fisher Scientific has strengthened talent acquisition,

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MIN C. ZHANG

CEO / CO-FOUNDER TOTUM WEALTH

Company: Totum Industry: Wealth Management CEO: Min Zhang Employees: 15 Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

HOLISTIC RISK ALIGNMENT FOR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES In 2015, Min Zhang combined her investment expertise with her passion in entrepreneurship to start a company that evaluates risk in personal investment strategies to better help investment professionals guide their clients.

As CEO of Totum, Zhang is behind the first wealth management platform to analyze comprehensive human capital factors and portfolios. Totum is a pioneer of holistic, institutionalquality analytics and innovative solutions helping financial advisors differentiate their offerings, increase conversion, and grow their practice.

Owning up to the company name: Totum means “all, the whole” in Latin, the company focuses on a comprehensive package of data. It goes beyond traditional age and income to measure the impact of human capital factors, including health, family, career, financial strength, and hidden correlation. The

company’s first product was designed to give financial advisors the tools they need to uncover and illustrate the unique risks in their clients’ lives as efficiently and digestibly as possible.

to leverage her expertise to make these tools available to individuals.

With the aim of bringing a more comprehensive, informative approach to wealth management and investing, Zhang brought together a team and investors that shared her vision to Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Min Zhang came to the United create Totum Wealth.

States to attend Dartmouth College.

She lives by the words, “adapt She earned a BS in in computer quickly, stay genuine, and be science and economics, and later went appreciative.” She is passionate on for an MBA at Stanford University about causes that build human Graduate School of Business. capital including education, mental wellness, entrepreneurship, personal She’s gained a decade of development, and reducing inequity. institutional investing experience.

Zhang is active in helping young Previously, she was director of people and entrepreneurs pursue investment risk management at and develop their career goals Pacific Life. She also worked at through alumni associations and PIMCO, Causeway Capital, and personal network. She coaches on Nutmeg.com, where she developed topics like best practices on pitching, quantitative investment models.

While applying models to adequately networking, career and startup best practices, and connects with others look into risk exposures and to in an extensive network in finance, optimize investment strategies for institutional clients, she was inspired technology, and venture capital. PDJ Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Toyota Motor North America Automotive Jim Lentz 35,000 Plano, Texas

JANETTE HOSTETTLER

GENERAL MANAGER PAINT, PLASTICS, PLANT ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING INDIANA

INSPIRING OTHERS TO “TAKE THE SHOT”

As a female executive in the male dominated manufacturing sector, Janette Hostettler is pushing full speed ahead and making a difference in the lives of others.

lead them toward advancing their careers. While women make up 47 percent of the workforce, they are only 27 percent of the manufacturing workforce. Early on in her career, Hostettler says she struggled with being a woman in a male dominated industry. She says it was a challenge, but primarily within herself rather than with other people. “Most of the time, I am my worst enemy,” she said.

capabilities, I started to take the shot!” she said.

At Toyota, she leads the company's Diversity Advisory Council in developing programs to retain current A general manager at Toyota team members and attract new ones.

Motor Manufacturing in Indiana, She maintains an active role in the she oversees about 1,000 employees annual Toyota Women's Leadership in various departments, including Conference and was responsible for Paint, Plastics, Plant Engineering and the startup of Women’s Leadership Environmental. In her role, she is Forum and Young Professionals Today, the outspoken executive leading these departments through Association, internal business ignites passion in other women by development of a five-year strategic partnering groups aimed at the sharing her personal journey. She plan, while playing a significant role development and success of the in the company's future plans. As part lives by the words of Canadian hockey future workforce. hall of famer Wayne Gretzky - you of this, she’s sharing her experiences She is on the boards of directors for as a woman overcoming adversity and will lose 100 percent of the shots you both The Lampion Center, benefiting don’t take…so take the shot. “Often it’s propelling others to success. children and families, and the times I would miss the opportunity Throughout her career, Hostettler Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. to speak up or try something new has been recognized for her vast She also serves on the board for because of what I thought other technical knowledge and skills, and Society of Women Engineers and is people would think of me.

I would also for exceptional development of a past member of SOAR, a women's lose that opportunity, just to find her teams. Her colleagues say the leadership development program. that someone else would say or do crux of her management expertise She holds a BS in chemistry from the same idea. Once I started to is the ability to develop people and Purdue University. PDJ believe in myself and believing in my 184

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GHISLAINE DUIJMELINGS CEO TROOSTWIJK AUCTIONS & VALUATIONS

Company: Troostwijk Auctions & Valuations Industry: Auctions CEO: Ghislaine Duijmelings Employees: 160 Headquarters: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

VALUING THE HUMAN FACTOR INTO CORPORATE SUCCESS As CEO of Europe’s largest industrial online auctioneer, Ghislaine Duijmelings’ focus on valuing the authenticity of its people has become a key component of the company’s success.

At Troostwijk Auctions & Valuations, she emphasizes the value in people across a workforce spanning 20 countries. Her colleagues say her emphasis on the human factor is a direct contributor to the company’s success.

To underscore her commitment to authenticity and diversity, one of the first things Duijmelings did upon becoming CEO was sign the Dutch charter for Talent at the Top. The business code inspires women to build careers, and helps people from every background to reach their potential.

“The most important quality a woman leader should have is selfreflection and the ability to be authentic,” Duijmelings said. “You have to believe in yourself.” She strives for personal development of herself, her colleagues, and her employees.

Her colleagues say she’s focused on autonomy, diversity, responsibility, and freedom. They further say she helps people make the best use of their potential and is instrumental in helping them discover capabilities they often do not see themselves.

Before joining the auction house, Duijmelings was CEO of European business supplies reseller Manutan Benelux in the Netherlands, where she spearheaded a corporate transformation. She introduced a complete new business vision with key elements focusing on people as

opposed to products that included sincerity and personal relationships.

It resulted in a new brand alongside a communication campaign for changing internal attitudes of brand perception. Employees joined her in building an open minded, inspiring work ethic.

Today, she’s leading the same sort of branding with the auction house. In defining the corporate brand identity, she’s building the passion of the employee’s reasons for working there into the backbone of a Troostwijk internal and external communication campaign. It’s generating a commitment to corporate pride and demonstrating the human factor is a decisive element in the company’s success. “It is about value, and value is all about people,” she said. PDJ

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PATRICIA A. SHLONSKY PARTNER-IN-CHARGE ULMER & BERNE LLP

Company: Industry: CEO:

Employees: Headquarters:

Ulmer & Berne LLP Legal Scott Kadish (Managing Partner) 150 Cleveland, Ohio

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LEGAL SECTOR As a highly respected leader at the 108-year-old law firm Ulmer & Berne LLP, Patricia Shlonsky was recently appointed the first woman Partner-inCharge of its headquarters in Cleveland.

mergers and acquisitions, privacy and data security issues under HIPAA, health benefits, executive compensation, and represents clients involved in governmental and private dispute resolution.

Under her recent appointment, she oversees the day-to-day operations of an 80 member team. With three decades of legal experience, the partner lives by the words “be involved and make a difference."

She said being a woman in the legal profession has been challenging and rewarding. "Women need to do it faster, smarter, and better, and it is amazing what you can accomplish. I have learned that the best way to help others is to stretch your comfort zone and get involved,” Shlonsky said.

Shlonsky is the first and only woman to have served on the firms’ Management Committee. She chairs the Employee Benefits and Tax Practice Groups and is the first and only woman to serve on the Compensation Committee. She also plays an integral role in Women in Law and Leadership, which supports and promotes the firms’ female attorneys and clients.

She represents clients in all types of employee benefit plans. She advises on employee benefit compliance issues, benefits issues that arise in 186

Her colleagues describe her as an accomplished professional and effective mentor whose leadership provides younger female attorneys with an excellent example to follow.

In an industry plagued by widespread underrepresentation of women leadership, they say she is one of the rare and incredibly important female voices in conversations that too often have been reserved only for men.

With women being underrepresented at the management level in the

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

legal industry, recent statistics show less than 20 percent of attorneys in leadership roles are women.

Among her many accolades, Shlonsky has been named Leader in the Field by Chambers USA, listed as one of the top 25 female attorneys in Cleveland by Super Lawyers, and named Best Lawyers’ Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year. She also received a Client Choice Award from Lexology earlier this year, based on in-depth client research. She is vice president of the Board of Trustees of the Cuyahoga County Public Library and serves on the Board of the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors at the Center for Community Solutions, where she chairs its Program and Policy Advisory Committee.

Shlonsky holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. PDJ

Company: UnitedHealthcare Industry: Health Insurance CEO: Austin Pittman Employees: 9,230 Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota

DR. ANA FUENTEVILLA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER UNITEDHEALTHCARE

ELIMINATING SOCIAL BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE As chief medical officer for the $23 billion UnitedHealthcare Community & State, Dr. Ana Fuentevilla focuses on the delivery of quality care to nearly 5.8 million members, including 2.8 million children.

seniors and people with disabilities.

Services in which she was similarly focused on quality of care for the Her work focuses on building commercial and Medicare population. health plans that serve diverse In that role, she led a shift to a valuepopulations, seniors, those with disabilities, mothers and children, and based relationship with health care adults with chronic conditions. She is providers so they are focused on patient care and quality outcomes.

Community & State is the Medicaid known for addressing patients basic division of UnitedHealth Group, needs first, such as transportation or She is on the board of the Arizona which is a diversified Fortune 50 hunger issues, so a patient can access Medicare Directors Association, health and well-being company. the appropriate care at the right time and a member of the Arizona Fuentevilla is responsible for the for their individual needs. “Many Geriatric Society, American Geriatric clinical functions, including overall people we serve live every day facing Society, National Hispanic Medical quality and affordability results, challenges in getting the care they Association and the Arizona Medical Model of Care programs, as well need to live healthy lives,” she said.

Association. She also volunteers as shared responsibilities with the with the United Health Foundation, She lives by the words “live with health plan CEOs for medical director integrity – every day.” With integrity serving as its spokesperson on leadership and performance. preventive care. as a core value at UnitedHealthcare, As she works toward transforming the health care system to improve patient experience, outcomes, and affordability, a good portion of her work consists of addressing social barriers to heath care. Her colleagues say she is passionate about delivering affordable, quality health care to diverse populations in a culturally sensitive way and, in particular, to

she says that means doing what you say you will do. “By living with integrity, we build trust and deeper relationships with health care providers and the people we serve,” she said.

Before taking her current position, Fuentevilla was the Central and West Region CMO for United Clinical

Fuentevilla earned her medical degree at the University of Arizona and completed her residency in internal medicine. As a Flinn Foundation Scholar, she subsequently completed a fellowship in geriatrics.

Earlier this year, she completed her masters in healthcare delivery science at Dartmouth. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

UnitedHealth Group Managed Health Care Stephen Hemsley 225,000 Minnetonka, Minnesota

DR. VIDYA RAMAN-TANGELLA

HEAD, UHC INNOVATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE UNITEDHEALTHCARE

TRANSFORMING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

D

r. Vidya Raman-Tangella is leading innovation at the country’s largest health care company, helping people live healthier lives through an ongoing transformation of the health care system.

Raman-Tangella heads UnitedHealthcare’s Innovation Center of Excellence, developing breakthroughs with practical solutions for improving health care quality, access and affordability.

UnitedHealthcare is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, which serves more than 132 million people worldwide.

A physician-innovator with more than 20 years of experience in the health field, Raman-Tangella collaborates with diverse partners to develop simpler, more intelligent, and cost effective health care solutions.

Her colleagues say she is exceptional with driving change in the health care market through the use of data and technology.

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Raman-Tangella and her team design, develop and scale breakthrough innovations that help address unmet health needs with holistic solutions. They use HumanCentered Design, outside-in thinking, and co-creation models to create meaningful solutions that deliver lasting value. Deep partnerships internally and strategic partnerships externally enable the team to create multi-faceted, holistic solutions.

possible to have the best of both these worlds, and my daily quest is to find ways to pursue them both. This for me has resulted in a deep passion for the world of personalized health, medicine and health care.” She also says being a woman in her profession is fulfilling and fascinating. “I think women are inherently great at innovation, given their ability to think and apply multiple facets and look beyond the here and now,” she explained.

As a senior healthcare leader with a passion for personalized health journeys, she previously held an executive role at Johnson & Johnson, where she led the design of integrated and tailored health and wellness solutions for employers and health care plans. She was instrumental in the company’s start-up organization, providing expertise about strategic partnerships and enterprise integration.

Raman-Tangella’s desire to address unmet health care issues has led to the development and launch of several innovations, including the Baby Block program, a free online and mobile healthy-baby initiative. Another of her innovations is Solutions for Caregivers, a program for large employers featuring in-person, telephonic, and online resources designed to help caregivers save money and more effectively provide assistance to the people they support. PDJ

“My biggest career leap was entering the world of innovation from a world of clinical medicine,” Raman-Tangella said. “I have since learned that it is

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

RIKKI GERSON-PARRY

CEO UNIVERSAL REPROGRAPHICS INC.

Company: Universal Reprographics, Inc. Industry: Construction CEO: Rikki Gerson-Parry Employees: 24 Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

BUILDING THE FAMILY BUSINESS During the past 26 years, Rikki Gerson-Parry has been involved with some of Los Angeles’ most impressive construction projects.

Her ventures with the business started out as a young San Fernando Valley girl working as a clerk at the then Universal Blueprint and later evolving into various roles helping As the CEO of Universal out the family business. “When my Reprographics Inc., she is an expert husband died I did not want to sell in document management for large the company, I wanted to run it,” she scale construction projects. She has worked on some of the region’s largest said. At the time, she had two sons, ages one and four. “I never intended undertakings, including The Getter on working full time, I had worked in Center, Los Angeles Metro, Los Angeles Community College District the accounting department part time Campuses, as well as Westfields across to help the family business,” she said.

America.

Gerson-Parry assumed the Gerson-Parry took over the family leadership role, devised a five-year plan and hired an interim president. business in 1989, after her husband “I needed to learn the business from a tragically passed. Over the years, different angle. At the end of the five she has successfully reinvented the years, the first thing I had to do was company multiple times and ridden let that president go. That was one of the ups and downs of the market to the hardest things I have done in my their present three locations across professional career,” she said. “I knew the Greater Los Angeles area. then, that I could do this.”

Over the years, she has continued to expand with the market and industry. She modernized the company’s offerings, both on the architectural side, where blue lines have transitioned to online plan rooms, and on the publishing side.

The company now offers a wide range of commercial digital printing and scanning products and services designed to provide fast turnaround to the architectural, engineering and construction industries.

Her colleagues say she is innovating the printing industry and making ancillary moves as a ball of fire with everyone wanting to pass the torch.

“Being a women in an industry that is dominated by men can be very intimidating if you let it be. I have found that as long as I am confident and believe in myself then no one can stop me,” she said. PDJ

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A Woman Worth Watching

Tracy Craig Principal and Owner Craig Communications

Congratulations, Tracy Craig, and all the recipients, for being named one of this year’s Women Worth Watching, by Diversity Journal. Thank you for all you do. You are an inspiration to all of us!

Craig Communications is a full service communications agency known for innovative public outreach programs that provide measurable results.

We work hard, treat others with courtesy and respect, and give back to the communities we live and work in. To learn more about us, please visit www.craig-communications.com.

M. SUSAN HARDWICK

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER VECTREN CORPORATION

Company: Vectren Corporation Industry: Investor Owned Utility CEO: Carl L. Chapman Employees: 1,800 Headquarters: Evansville, Indiana

WOMAN ON THE RISE IN UTILITY SECTOR

M. Susan Hardwick has rapidly risen to the forefront of the maledominated utility industry. Her leadership has contributed to continued growth and success for a company with over $5 billion in assets.

with a strong workforce. She lives by the words “honesty, transparency, and directness.”

Hardwick describes being a woman in a male-dominated industry as being rewarding. "I have learned from some of the best,” she said.

Her colleagues describe her as an executive dedicated to building a better community and a company

finance and vice president, controller, and assistant treasurer.

In addition to her executive roles, she is a driving force behind the company’s diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives and has been Hardwick was named executive vice instrumental in the promotion president of Vectren Corporation in of women and minorities to key June, where she has been the senior leadership roles. “She helped guide vice president and chief financial me through my decision to change officer since 2014. Vectren is an careers,” said one of her mentees. energy holding company that delivers “Because of her support, I am able to natural gas and/or electricity to more do work I consider priceless.” than one million customers in nearly Hardwick has held various two-thirds of Indiana and about 20 positions with Vectren, where she’s percent of Ohio, primarily in the been since its inception in 2000. west-central area.

They include senior vice president of

She is active on a variety of community boards and associations.

Among them, she is the vice-chair of the board of St. Mary’s Medical

Center. She serves on the board of Fifth Third Bank (Southern Indiana) and rejoined the board of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science, where she previously served as president. She has also served as president of the board of the Evansville Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series, as Treasurer of Gilda’s Club of Evansville and Treasurer of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series.

She was awarded the Athena Award in 2009 by the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana. And in 2011, she was awarded the Maverick Award by the Midwest Energy Association.

She has also held numerous leadership and committee roles with the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute.

Hardwick is a CPA and holds an accounting degree from Indiana University. PDJ

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Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Walden University Higher Education Jonathan Kaplan, President 3,617 Minneapolis, Minnesota

JANET D. WILLIAMS

DEAN RICHARD W. RILEY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP WALDEN UNIVERSITY

TRANSFORMING THE WORLD THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION A s a dean of a leading online university, Dr. Janet Williams is committed to educating working professionals looking to transform the world.

the development of a unique threetiered partnership model to enhance relationships for students during their field experiences.

She said her passion in education ignited when she “realized the positive influence education has on helping others achieve their goals and the impact of those actions for social change in our world.” As a woman leader in the educational sector, she identifies the “desire to make She oversees the School of Education a difference” as a key component of leadership. “Women can and and Professional Licensure. Her role should empower each other through includes program, personnel, and collaboration across allied fields,” policy development and evaluation, she said. as well as budgeting and long-term planning for student success. Under Prior to her tenure at Walden, her leadership, Walden launched Williams served as associate dean the nation’s first online competencyat the University of New Orleans based master’s program in early and director for teacher licensure childhood studies using a direct and assessment for the Louisiana assessment model.

Department of Education, before relocating following the devastation As dean, Williams is accountable of Hurricane Katrina. for outreach to districts, schools, At Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, Williams heads a 21st century learning community seeking to affect positive social change.

Walden has more than 100,000 alumni from 150 countries.

and state departments of education.

Her enthusiasm has broadened with 192

Williams is an active member of several professional groups, including the National Council of Teachers of

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Mathematics, International Society for Technology in Education, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, American Educational Research Association, a local chapter of Kiwanis International, and several charities for scholarship programs and hospitals. She has also served as a national evaluator for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement for leadership and alternate certification programs.

Among her many accolades, Williams has been recognized as a Florida regional teacher of the year, district mathematics teacher of the year, and member of a team recognized as innovators of the year

by New Orleans City Business for opening the first university-managed charter school in the city.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, a master’s in education from Rollins College, and a doctorate of education from the University of Central Florida. PDJ

Company: Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Industry: Retail Pharmacy CEO: Stefano Pessina Employees: 370,000+ Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois

KIMBERLY R. SCARDINO

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL CONTROLLER CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

RESULTS-DRIVEN EXECUTIVE TRANSFORMING BUSINESS K

imberly Scardino is a dynamic leader known for transforming businesses through successfully cultivating talent and inspiring change.

As senior vice president, global controller, and chief accounting officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance, Scardino spearheads change across a company with revenues in excess of $103 billion. With operations in more than 25 counties, WBA owns pharmaceutical manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution companies. It is the world’s first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.

Scardino is known for driving results through developing highly productive, engaged, and motivated teams. Her colleagues describe her as an inspirational leader with a passion for leading change and creating efficiency and value, whether in finance, leading an office or location,

or with non-profit boards. They say she possesses a unique combination of traits and values leading to organizational transformation that is enabling stronger, more efficient business operations.

She joined the company last year coming from American Express, where she was senior vice president and the Americas controller. There she led a global team of about 300 finance professionals located throughout the world. Earlier in her career she served in roles of increasing responsibility including vice president and global head of American Express’ Global SOX, and various accounting functions at Credit Suisse Group, and at Lyondell Chemical Company. She began her career back in 1994 at Arthur Andersen LLP. Scardino said her biggest career leap was leading a team in which

she did not have deep subject matter expertise. “I learned a willingness to listen and learn from your team; and that strong leadership skills can transcend across organizational boundaries, exposing and stretching leaders and teams to work in new and different ways and developing and retaining critical talent,” she said.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was created two years ago with a combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots. The transaction brought together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values, and a heritage of trusted healthcare services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care.

Scardino holds a BS in accounting from the University of Houston. PDJ

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PHYLLIS PERRIN HARRIS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL COUNSEL/LEGAL OPERATIONS WAL-MART STORES, INC.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Retail Doug McMillon 2.3 million Bentonville, Arkansas

EXEMPLARY LEADER COUNSELS WORLD’S LARGEST COMPANY

O

ver the past two decades, Phyllis Perrin Harris has earned a reputation for exemplary leadership.

Her impressive career spans from public servant to legal counsel for the world’s largest company.

Harris is senior vice president and general counsel of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. With revenue in excess of $482 billion, the retailer is the world’s largest company by revenue, according to the 2016 Fortune Global 500 list. With 2.3 million employees, the family-owned business is also the largest private employer in the world.

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Harris serves as general counsel for Walmart’s legal operations, where she counsels other lawyers overseeing the employment, intellectual property, and corporate governance functions.

She also designs and executes outside counsel management, as well as diversity and attorney development programs.

was in turmoil, I was eight months pregnant, and I did not think that I was ready,” she said. “I realized that I could not let my insecurities get in the way of the opportunity. I got out of my own way, believed in the attributes that others saw in me and took charge!” She’s been nonstop ever since.

Her colleagues say she sets high expectations and instills a belief in associates that anything is possible when diverse and inclusive teams work together toward common goals.

They describe her as an authentic and supportive leader, who is sought out for mentorship and her ability to lead through change and difficult circumstances

Harris left federal service in 2006 to join Walmart as vice president for environmental compliance, where she developed environmental programs recognized for excellence across the retail sector. She was promoted five years later to senior vice president and chief compliance officer for Walmart’s U.S. business units, where she designed innovative solutions that enhanced pharmacy, firearms, and money services’ compliance programs.

Earlier in her career, Harris served as the first African-American regional counsel and deputy assistant administrator in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Harris advocated for justice, working on some of the most challenging environmental matters facing communities of color.

She was awarded a Merit Rank Award from President George W. Bush for superior sustained performance.

Harris said her biggest career leap in the government was taking a position with the General Counsel.

“At the age of 34, the Washington D.C. based General Counsel asked me to take on the role of Regional Counsel in Atlanta for a legal department of 120. I was stunned because the office

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

She took on her current role last year and quickly made and impact by using data and analytics to reduce expenses while improving supplier diversity for the company’s legal matters. She also launched the Walmart Ready conference to secure legal work for women and diverse attorneys and to prepare them for the demands of Walmart legal work.

Harris serves as vice chair of the Converse College Board of Trustees, the Environmental Law Institute, and Northwest Arkansas Headstart. She holds a BA in politics from Converse College and law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. PDJ

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Healthcare Ken Burdick 7,100 Tampa, Florida

KELLY MUNSON

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT DIVISION PRESIDENT AND MEDICAID PRODUCT WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC.

EXECUTING WINNING STRATEGIES IN HEALTHCARE A s an accomplished and influential senior executive with two decades of managed care experience, Kelly Munson focuses on providing health care to those who need it most.

As senior vice president at WellCare Health Plans, Inc., she has responsibility for operations and Medicaid product development for about four million members, as well as oversight of its community advocacy programs. She is accountable for WellCare’s operations in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

profitability, enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and developing innovative product strategies.

connect community resources and help members navigate the social support network.

WellCare focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors, and people with complex medical needs. It contracts with about 374,000 health care providers, helping its members gain access to the right care in the appropriate setting through coordinated care teams and community partnerships.

Her work focuses on people who really need help and whose challenges in life go beyond health care. Among them are, low-income, elderly, disabled, and individuals with complex medical issues.

After joining WellCare a decade ago, Munson has held positions of increasing responsibility including areas of operations and regulatory compliance for WellCare’s Ohio health plan. Four years ago, she was named chief operating officer of WellCare Munson’s colleagues say she of Kentucky and a year later she Over the years, Munson has embodies the company’s goal for was promoted to state president of demonstrated an ability to build long- helping people live healthier lives.

Kentucky. Before assuming her current term mutually beneficial relationships Munson works to identify local position, she served as the region with customers, organizational solutions to fill gaps to help improve president for WellCare's operations partners, and government entities. health outcomes while simultaneously in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, She has an impressive history in lowering the cost of health care. She Mississippi, and Tennessee. PDJ developing and executing winning is exceptionally passionate about strategies for increasing revenue and WellCare’s advocacy programs, which 196

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

Company: WilmerHale Industry: Law CEO: Robert Novick and Susan Murley (Co-Managing Partners) Employees: 2,259 Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts Washington, DC

JEANNIE RHEE PARTNER WILMERHALE

VETERAN TRIAL ATTORNEY WITH VAST GOVERNMENT EXPERTISE As a partner with one of the nation’s top law firms, veteran trial attorney Jeannie Rhee conducts investigations into some of the most sensitive cybersecurity and data breach incidents in the world.

investigations and also prosecuted cases involving mail and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, bribery, money laundering, false statements, and conspiracy.

border money-laundering and tax evasion investigations, and a financial lender in investigations alleging fraudulent practices involving government guaranteed loans. She Throughout her career, Rhee’s legal has defended a former government officer accused in a national Rhee is with WilmerHale, where representation includes extensive she focuses on defending clients criminal and civil matters in both the security investigation of conspiracy, immigration fraud, and improper subject to governmental related public and private sectors. “I am a litigation and investigations, doer – I like the satisfaction of solving access to classified information.

She also defended a congressman including white collar and securities real problems and working with enforcement cases. Among them others to get to that end,” she said. She in a federal public corruption case. are large defense contractors, major describes the most important quality Adding to her case list, she was also successful in the conviction of a financial institutions, and top in a woman leader as fearlessness. retail clients.

“You have to be willing to step in and foreign national for attempting to kill lead. It can and should be done in an his estranged wife upon refusal to Her career includes high level sponsor citizenship. inclusive and welcoming way - you government experience with the need to be thoughtful and deliberative Rhee has known she’s wanted to be Department of Justice, the Office of – but at the end of the day, someone a lawyer since she debuted in a fourth Legal Counsel, and the United States has to be in charge.

It’s important to grade play as a lawyer defending a Attorneys’ Office for the District of exude confidence and to believe in piece of candy on trial for causing Columbia as a prosecutor in its fraud your own abilities,” she said. tooth decay. “It was the first time I and public corruption section. She wore a suit and stood up to present has advised the Attorney General, Cases she’s worked on include a closing argument. Wow. I still the White House and other senior defending a defense contractor in remember that moment. I felt so agency officials regarding criminal multiple agency investigations in empowered. I still feel that way every law, criminal procedure, executive connection with cybersecurity and time I stand up in a courtroom. That privilege, civil rights, national security the leak of classified information feeling never goes away,” she said. PDJ and cybersecurity. She has conducted charges. She has represented a numerous federal grand jury multinational bank in federal crossRead more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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Company: WilsonHCG Industry: Recruitment Process Outsourcing/Talent Solutions CEO: John Wilson Employees: 600+ Headquarters: Tampa, Florida

KIM POPE

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS WILSONHCG

TRANSFORMING BUSINESS THROUGH TALENT As executive vice president of recruitment solutions at WilsonHCG, Kim Pope is instrumental in the growth of the global talent solutions company as well as fueling growth and innovation with its clients.

Over the past three years, Pope has successfully overseen three corporate acquisitions; the company’s global expansion into Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region; as well as the restructuring of its sales and marketing departments.

recruitment processing outsourcing (RPO), talent consulting, executive search and workforce solutions.

Pope is accountable for developing solutions that position clients for creating proactive talent acquisition strategies that fuel growth.

Pope initially launched her career at Aerotek and moved on as a recruiting manager at Ray & Barney Group. After joining WilsonHCG about six years ago, she began leading the sales team to help create proactive talent acquisition She is known for driving strategies that drive growth and collaboration and motivating teams innovation for organizations across to strive for excellence and for a variety of industries. Now she transforming clients’ businesses oversees sales, sales operations and through their talent. Her colleagues marketing. Over the past few years, say she has paved the way for her communication skills, strategies, countless women striving for leadership positions across the human and implementation plans have been instrumental in three of WilsonHCG’s resources sector. acquisitions in the United States, WilsonHCG delivers businessCanada and the United Kingdom. impacting talent solutions, such as She says her biggest career leap was

moving into recruitment processing outsourcing. “I learned how big of a positive impact RPO can have on an organization’s growth,” she said.

While driving brand management, Pope also works alongside the executive team to grow WilsonHCG’s global partnerships. As a supporter and advocate for candidate experiences, she serves on the North America CandE Council, where she plays a strategic role in defining the Candidate Experience Awards and Research in 2016 and beyond. This allows her to bring best practices to the company and its clients, as well as giving back to the recruitment industry and helping drive HR transformation. PDJ

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ynda Gonzales-Chavez is responsible for leading the YMCA in advancing a sustainable culture that values diversity, strengthens inclusion, and fosters community bridge-building.

Company: Industry: CEO: Employees: Headquarters:

YMCA of the USA Nonprofit Kevin Washington 350+ Chicago, Illinois

As the senior vice president and chief diversity officer for YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the country’s 2,700 YMCAs, Gonzales-Chavez is focused on embedding diversity and inclusion practices, building staff and volunteer cultural competencies to engage underserved communities, and ensuring the nonprofit organization’s leadership mirrors the communities it serves.

Her international and domestic experience, combined with a deep understanding of history and culture, give her a unique perspective.

With 28 years of global experience working with and on behalf of diverse and underserved populations worldwide, she is one of the most respected voices in the Y on global engagement practices.

She describes being a woman in her profession as an incredibly rewarding and fascinating journey. “I’m proud to work for a nonprofit that includes ‘for all’ in its mission statement and has an organizational commitment to diversity and inclusion. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to meet the men who founded the Young Men's Christian Association back in 1844 and what the conversation would be like!” she said.

LYNDA GONZALES-CHAVEZ SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER YMCA OF THE USA

VALUING DIVERSITY AND STRENGTHENING INCLUSION

In this role, she provided support to YMCAs and communities focusing on cultural competence, inclusion practices, immigration, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse prevention, outreach to high-risk and incarcerated populations, gang intervention, Gonzales-Chavez has widespread conflict resolution, and life skills. She experience with the Y as a staff led cultural immersion trips to Africa, member and a volunteer, and has held Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and positions on the Y-USA Board of Latin America, and has represented Directors and the World Alliance of Y-USA in more than 30 countries.

YMCAs Executive Committee.

In addition, Gonzales-Chavez She joined the Y-USA International served as a program manager and Group in 1999 as senior associate senior gang interventionist for Youth director, specializing in global and Development, Inc., in Albuquerque, local-based strategies to engage New Mexico, where she worked with immigrant, diverse, and marginalized more than 50 gangs. She developed communities at all levels of the Y. 200

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

and implemented innovative programs for gang members that focused on cultural identity, nonviolence, faith-based experience, informal education, peer mentoring, and participatory learning. “When I moved from a job as a gang interventionist to YMCA of the USA I learned that skills and experience between completely different roles are very transferable,” GonzalesChavez said.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in public service management from DePaul University. PDJ

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ass the Torch for Women is building a unique and powerful community galvanized by a shared belief in the value of women’s leadership.

The non-profit foundation has created a community of empowered women developing one another professionally through mentoring relationships, networking and leadership training. Its community starts at the collegiate level and stretches inside the C-Suite.

PASSING THE TORCH

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH MENTORSHIP

There is voluminous research circulating about the value of having women leaders at the helm of businesses, organizations and governments. Nonetheless, more than 80 percent of the C-suites in S&P 500 continued page 202

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continued from page 201

Linda Matkowski

2015 to combat the barriers female college students face for successfully transitioning into the workforce. The partnership culminated in Project Grow, a pilot program launched last year with 100 students from Ivy Tech Community College and Marian University.

companies are occupied by men.

The old adage “It’s not what you know, As part of the program, college but who you know” doesn’t work as administrators nominated the well for women when there are participants focusing on first fewer female leaders in those generation college students and professional circles. leadership potential. During the With headquarters in Indiana, school year, students connected Pass the Torch is addressing the need with mentors and completed to connect professional women and four leadership training modules: foster valuable relationships. The Fundamentals in Mentoring, foundation recognizes sustainable Propelling Your Career with Mentors value in mentor/mentee relationships. and Sponsors, The Art of Negotiation, It requires its members to serve as and Networkingwith Intention. mentors, regardless of where they The students were also invited are in their careers. They also share to local Pass the Torch for Women through a virtual connection using events to hone their networking mentoring software provided by the skills by interacting with women groups’ Founder Alison Martinleaders. Project Grow graduated Books. The digital package connects women and men around the country its first class this year. Six of the young women are featured in for virtual mentoring sessions. videos on the organization’s website: “Research has proven time and passthetorchforwomen.org. again that part of the ‘recipe for “Through our partnership with success’ for women is the ability to Pass the Torch for Women and the have access to quality mentoring relationships,” said Linda Matkowski, generosity of USA Funds, I have witnessed our students grow and the foundation’s national achieve new heights,” said Amanda board chairperson.

Bremmer, assistant director of The group provides opportunities Ivy Tech’s Office of Student Life for both senior level women and and Development. She added that those who are just launching careers the program has given students to learn and grow from one other. Its confidence to run for student mentors gain a better understanding leadership positions, serve on school of the challenges young mentees have committees, graduate with job offers, in finishing college and pursuing or continue toward a more employment. The mentees gain advanced degree. insights in how to effectively begin NURTURING DEVELOPING preparing for employment at LEADERS various companies.

INSPIRING EMERGING PROFESSIONALS IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES Pass the Torch for Women partnered with USA Funds in 202

Women just entering the workforce and those in lower and mid-management positions often times find it challenging to connect with an appropriate mentor. For these developing leaders, Pass the Torch offers a formalized mentoring

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

program and leadership training opportunities. Mentor connections are made through the mentoring software, as well as speed mentoring programs, and local networking events. Members also have access to leadership training webinars. Since all members of the community serve as mentors themselves, these women are also reaching back to pull forward women in a different stage of their careers.

ENGAGING ESTABLISHED EXECUTIVES Those women who have reached the C-suite are typically the ones seeking out opportunities to give back. These seasoned professionals are involved with the Pass the Torch for Women’s 500 Circle, where they help lead the community. They serve as mentors and sponsors for the college students and developing leaders, and share their wisdom as guest speakers for leadership webinars and events.

Beyond what they do as mentors, these women leaders benefit from informal peer-to-peer mentoring at 500 Circle events.

The foundation has plans for creating chapters around the country to enable local networking events. To join the Pass the Torch for Women community, or if you are interested in starting a chapter in your area, visit passthetorchforwomen.org. PDJ

Amanda Bremmer

CORPORATE INDEX

Bold & blue denotes advertiser COMPANY

AWARD RECIPIENT

PAGE

3M................................... Tamie Minami.....................14, 15 Aflac Incorporated............... June Howard.......................... 16, 17 Akraya, Inc..................................Sonu Ratra............................................18 Alcoa................................... Vas Nair................................. 19, 21 Allegheny College.......................Ande Diaz..............................................20 American Airlines.............. Heather Garboden...............22, 25 American Express........................Nicole Stoner.........................................24 Applied Materials................ Joanne Bal............................. 10, 26 Arrow Electronics........................Allison Sabia.........................................27 Assurant Brazil................. Ana Paula Almeida Santos....28, 30 Assurant, Inc....................... Rebekah Biondo.................... 28, 29 Assurant, Inc....................... Tammy Schultz....................... 28, 31 AT&T................................... Jennifer Biry ......................... 32, 35 AT&T................................... Anne Chow............................ 33, 35 AT&T................................... Kay Kapoor............................ 34, 35 AT&T................................... Norberta Noguera.................. 35, 36 Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider..........Gail Gottehrer.......................................37 Bank of the West................. Corporate..................................198 Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law...................... Leticia Diaz............................ 11, 38 Booz Allen Hamilton............ Dorothy "Dee Dee" Helfenstein... 39, 94 Brinker Capital.................... Amy Magnotta....................... 40, 41 California Community Foundation.................................Nike Irvin..............................................42 Campbell Soup Company...... Tara Smith............................. 43, 44 Canadian Mental Health Association, York and South Simcoe ..............Rebecca Shields ...................................45 Capital One.................................Emilia Lopez..........................................46 Carmeuse Lime & Stone....... Melissa Croll........................ 47, 117 Catalyst.......................................Brande Stellings....................................48 Cathedral Capital, Inc..................Brooke Lively.........................................49 CBRE...........................................Jennifer Ashley.....................................50 Charter School Business Management Inc.........................Heather Blumberg................................51 Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP.........Brenda Herschbach Jarrell.....................52 Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP........Melissa Tearney.....................................53

Cisco................................... Francine Katsoudas................ 54, 55 Comcast Corporation...................Myrna Soto...........................................56 Cooper Standard.................. Christine Krathwohl............... 44, 57 Cox Automotive, Inc............. Nuan Openshaw-Dion............... 8, 58 Cox Automotive, Inc. ........... Jane Gitere ............................. 8, 59 Cox Automotive, Inc............. Lydia V. James.......................... 8, 60 Cox Automotive, Inc............. Patty Turner............................ 8, 61 Craig Communications......... Tracy Craig........................... 62, 190 CVS..................................... Corporate....................................92 Dechert LLP.................................Catherine Botticelli...............................63 Delta Airlines, Inc................ Marguerite "Meg" Taylor...... 65, 195 Denny's............................... April Kelly-Drummond............ 21, 66 DIALOG.......................................Tania Oppedisano.................................67 Diverst, Inc..................................Lucy Keoni............................................68 Elektrobit....................................Manuela Papadopol..............................69 Entergy Texas, Inc................ Sallie Rainer.......................... 70, 72 Equis Staffing..............................Carrie Nebens........................................71 ERA Real Estate................... Sue Yannaccone..................... 73, 83 ESPN................................... Rosalyn Durant........................ 2, 74 Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.....Jocelyn Evans........................................75 EY....................................... Leslie D.J. Patterson............. 76, 205 FedEx Express..............................Jill Brannon...........................................77 First Tennessee............................Lynne Walker........................................78 Fish & Richardson........................Natalie Arbaugh ...................................79 Fish & Richardson........................Linda Liu Kordziel.................................80 Fish & Richardson........................Cynthia Johnson Walden.......................81 FordHarrison LLP.........................Tiffany Downs.......................................82 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP...............................Valerie Ford Jacob.................................84 Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies .................. Vicky Jandreau....................................85 Full Circle Insights.......................Bonnie Crater........................................86 Garden City Group................ Christi Cannon......................... 9, 87 GE...............................................Linda Boff.............................................88 Georgia Power.............................Lisa Smith.............................................89 Gibbons P.C.................................Camille Otero........................................90 Girl STEM Stars............................Kiwoba Allaire.......................................91 Great Basin Scientific, Inc............Sandra Nielsen......................................93 Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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CORPORATE INDEX

Bold & blue denotes advertiser Greenberg Traurig, LLP................Annapoorni Sankaran...........................95 HARMAN International......... Jessica Garvey........................ 41, 96 HARMAN International......... Sripriya Raghunathan............ 41, 97 Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth®............. Nicole Perkins...................... 98, 154 Haynes and Boone, LLP...............Kenya Woodruff....................................99 HD Supply, Inc.............................Susan Stucker.....................................100 Hewlett Packard Enterprise.........Caroline Tsay.......................................101 Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP.................... Dorit Ungar Black................. 25, 102 Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP.................... Blair Kaminsky..................... 25, 103 Honeywell UOP.................... Rebecca Liebert..................104, 105 HP Inc..........................................Tracy Keogh........................................106 Hudson Allergy...........................Julie Kuriakose....................................107 IAC Applications..........................Niti Bashambu....................................108 ICON Information Consultants.....Pamela O'Rourke.................................109 Imprint Plus................................Kristin MacMillan................................110 Integra LifeSciences Corporation.............Abigail Epane-Osuala..........................111 Jones Walker LLP.........................Marjorie A. McKeithen........................112 Juniper Networks........................Lisa Guess...........................................113 Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP................Linda Kornfeld....................................114 Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP................Jennifer Recine...................................115 Kelly Services..............................Dinette Koolhaas.................................116 KeyCorp.............................. Trina Evans.......................... 64, 118 KPMG.................................. Tracy Benard.......................119, 179 Latham & Watkins LLP................Sarah Ray............................................120 Leadspace, Inc.............................Sherrod Patching................................121 Legg Mason Global Asset Management..........Ursula Schliessler................................122 Levenfeld Pearlstein....................Angela Hickey.....................................123 Lincoln Financial Group...... Jamie Ohl........................ 124, 174 Linkage.......................................Laura Stone.........................................125 LinkedIn......................................Lora Blum ..........................................126 LinkedIn......................................Joanna Pomykala................................127 LinkedIn......................................Shannon (Stubo) Brayton...................128 Lockheed Martin................. Corporate....................... Back Cover Lucasfilm............................ Lynwen Brennan.................... 2, 129 204

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Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP........................ Heather Kissling..................131, 132 Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP........................ Katherine Neville................132, 133 Mayer Brown LLP................. Lisa Ferri.............................134, 135 MillerCoors .................................Britt Dougherty ..................................136 Mindtree Ltd. .............................Joelle Smith........................................137 Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp.......Melanie Figueroa................................138 Moss Adams LLP.........................Bertha Minnihan.................................139 MUFG Union Bank, N.A...............Marianne Bamonte.............................140 NASA Johnson Space Center........Vanessa Wyche....................................141 Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP......Leah Schleicher...................................142 New American Funding...............Patty Arvielo.......................................143 New Jersey State Bar Association..................Denise Sharperson..............................144 New York Life...................... Kelli Parsons.......................105, 145 New York Power Authority..........Kristine Pizzo......................................146 Northwestern Mutual.......... Kimberley Goode.................148, 163 Novartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationEster Banque..... Ester Banque....................... 55, 149 Pay it Forward Processing...........Renee VanHeel....................................150 Parker Hannifin................... Corporate ..................................161 Plan International Canada..........Deborah Singh....................................151 PNC Bank, N.A..................... Alicia Powell.......................152, 154 Prudential Financial, Inc...... Michele Alcazar...................130, 153 RBC Wealth Management-U.S................. Janet Engels.......................... 6, 155 Reed Smith LLP...........................Kit Chaskin..........................................165 Renzei Holdings, Inc....................Julia Huang.........................................157 Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP..........Julia Lu................................................158 Robins Kaplan LLP......................Kathleen Flynn Peterson.....................159 Rocana........................................Rachel Taylor.......................................160 Rockwell Collins..........................Dorothea Henderson...........................162 Salt River Project................. Lori Singleton.....................164, 165 SAP.............................................Penelope Delgadillo Valencia..............166 SAP ............................................Zarina Lam Stanford...........................167 Seasons.......................................Linda Conklin......................................168 Sodexo, Inc..................................Deborah Gutierrez Schloss..................169 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C................Tracy-Gene Durkin..............................170

CORPORATE INDEX

Bold & blue denotes advertiser Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C................Eldora Ellison......................................171 Stikeman Elliott LLP....................Ramandeep Grewal............................172 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.............Sharon Nelles......................................173 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP............................Vanessa Scott......................................175 Syniverse ....................................Mary Clark..........................................176 Terex Corporation........................Linda McAvoy......................................177 Textron Systems..........................Kim Schleiff.........................................178 The Walt Disney Company Disneyland Paris.................. Catherine Powell.................... 2, 180 The Walt Disney Company.... Tricia Wilber........................... 2, 181 Thermo Fisher Scientific..............Sue Rice..............................................182 Totum Wealth.............................Min Zhang..........................................183 Toyota Motor Manufacturing......Janette Hostettler...............................184 Troostwijk Auctions & Valuations................................Ghislaine Duijmelings.........................185

Ulmer & Berne LLP......................Patricia Shlonsky.................................186 UnitedHealthcare........................Vidya Raman-Tangella........................187 UnitedHealthcare Community & State.....................Ana Fuentevilla...................................188 Universal Reprographics Inc........Rikki Gerson-Parry..............................189 Vectren Corporation............. Susan Hardwick................... 16, 191 Walden University.......................Janet Williams.....................................192 Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.. Kimberly R. Scardino............ 23, 193 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc............ Phyllis Harris......................147, 194 WellCare Health Plans, Inc..........Kelly Munson......................................196 WilmerHale.................................Jeannie Rhee......................................197 WilsonHCG..................................Kim Pope............................................199 YMCA of the USA.........................Lynda Gonzales-Chavez......................200

© 2016 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved. EDNone

Forward thinking got you here. And it’s what will fuel a future of possibilities.

People who are moving the world forward, these are the kinds of people who build our success at EY. We’re pleased to congratulate Leslie Patterson for being recognized as one of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 2016 Women Worth Watching. It’s an achievement that helps drive us all forward.

Visit ey.com

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HONORING HISPANIC HERITAGE Profiles in Diversity Journal proudly supports the annual celebration recognizing the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Our team values the importance of continually raising awareness of National Hispanic Heritage in the corporate and private sectors.

NATIONAL HISPANIC CORPORATE COUNCIL CELEBRATES 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

T

his year marks the 30 year anniversary of The National Hispanic Corporate Council. Earlier this year, the group celebrated three decades of transforming the future at a summit in Washington D.C. featuring top corporate executives discussing the impact of the Hispanic market. During the celebration, award-winning journalist and CEO of Starfish Media Group Soledad O’Brien hosted a special "I AM LATINO IN CORPORATE AMERICA” plenary panel. O’Brien was joined by senior corporate executives for an in depth discussion on the growth and power of the Hispanic/Latino consumer and its impact on the corporate bottom line.

The featured panel included: Jennifer Brase, VP Diversity & Inclusion, Northwestern Mutual; Ajamu Johnson, Executive Director, 206

diverse Hispanic market, we now know the future prosperity of many of our corporate members is directly tied to their competitiveness in the growing 1.5 trillion dollar domestic Hispanic market,” said Octavio A. Hinojosa Mier, NHCC Executive Director.

CEO of Starfish Media Group Soledad O’Brien

Supplier Diversity & Procurement Strategy Comcast & NBCUniversal; Luis Lobo, EVP, Manager Multicultural Banking, BB&T; and Fred Whipple, VP Diversity, Community & Workforce, Shell.

“As a national organization dedicated to helping corporate America better understand the

PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL • Summer 2016

The NHCC is the premiere resource for corporate America on maximizing Hispanic market opportunity.

The groups’ 2016 NHCC Annual Summit “Three Decades, One Goal: Transforming the Future,” gathered together experts in the areas of its five pillars; human resources, marketing, supplier diversity, and community relations within the foundation of corporate social responsibility.

NHCC’s goal is to provide its membership with the latest corporate best practices on maximizing the Hispanic market opportunity.

NHLA CELEBRATES THE COALITION'S 25 YEARS OF ADVOCACY LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes, NHLA co-founder Dr. Juan Andrade, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Hector Sánchez, NHLA co-founder Aida Alvarez, LULAC National President Roger Rocha, and NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President & General Counsel Thomas Saenz.

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he National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), celebrates 25 years of advocacy efforts this year on behalf of the Latino community. The group is a coalition of the nation's 40 preeminent Latino advocacy organizations. Collectively, NHLA leads the advocacy behind the pressing civil rights and policy issues impacting the 58 million Latinos living in the United States.

a proud member of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda because we believe it is important for our nation’s Hispanic leaders to join together and establish policy priorities which address the critical issues affecting the Latino community.

As leaders of NHLA, we are united by our core principles and guided by our efforts to advance positive change for our community. As the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, we know that being part of NHLA helps amplify our voice and raise needed awareness for Latino issues,” said Brent Wilkes, NHLA Treasurer and LULAC National Executive Director. PDJ

National Latino leaders joined together on the eve of Hispanic Heritage Month to honor NHLA’s history of advocacy for the Latino community. NHLA leaders and supporters were joined in celebrating NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS the coalition’s 25th anniversary by Alianza Americas | American GI Forum the Grammy award-winning band Ozomatli, known for their innovation | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ and creativity that gives voice to Latino Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus culture and social justice issues.

Institute | Cuban American National "The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is

Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National

Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | US - Mexico Foundation

Read more at DIVERSITYJOURNAL.COM

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