BREAKOUT SESSIONS

10:45AM – 12:00PM

Leading Your Business Through a Changing Landscape

Major events that impact the economy and how we do business challenge us in ways we never thought possible. These disruptions seem to occur more frequently whether it's the recent pandemic or the housing crisis in 2009. What if there was a way to be better prepared for the next disruption? Hear from a panel of business leaders who faced upheaval during the pandemic, how they persevered and their game plan to best prepared for the next disruption.

Meghan Hart, MBA ’17 Manager, Domestic Marketing Strategy for Universal Parks & Resorts, NBCUniversal

In the business of marketing fun! Meghan Hart has spent the past 5 years developing and executing global marketing campaigns to drive demand to meet revenue, attendance, and occupancy targets for Universal Parks & Resorts. Highlights include attraction launches, new event development, and reopening a theme park.

Stennett Rey, Current MBV Student

Command Senior Enlisted Leader, United States Marine Corps Stennett Rey is an active-duty Marine with 28 years of service. His current role is as a Command Senior Enlisted Leader advising the senior executive for the largest Marine Corps logistics unit west of the Mississippi consisting of 8,500 personnel and 13 business organizations. Since 2020, Stennett has performed organizational development consultant functions enhancing the workplace by providing advice, guidance, and oversight to cross-functional leaders and managers solving typical business and people-related issues.

David Wani, MBA ’01 CEO, Twenty Four Seven Hotel

The co-founder of Twenty Four Seven Hotels, David Wani serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. David directs all company operations, including property management, development and investment including acquisition and disposition activity.

Sharon Wang, MBA ’18

CEO/Founder, Pragmatic Strategy Co. (Moderator)

WIth over two decades of experience in large-scale, complex transformations, Sharon Wang focuses on helping organizations execute corporate strategies that help evolve the organizations.

10:45AM – 12:00PM

Case Studies: Real World DEI Strategies with Impact

Incorporating DEI into your leadership approach can seem overwhelming. In this session, you will learn about real-world strategies implemented by organizations and their impact on culture, employee morale and overall bottom line. Walk away with action items to help elevate your DEI strategy beyond the basic elements and implement meaningful programs and services.

Marya Bangee, MPA ’15

Vice President of Representation, Inclusion Strategies and Engagement, The Walt Disney Studios

In her current role, Marya Bangee works as a creative thought partner with the heads of the different studios under the Disney umbrella, including Marvel, Lucas, Pixar, 20th Century, and Searchlight, on telling culturally representative stories through film that are seen by billions of people globally. Her team is responsible for furthering representation across the Studios through content advisement; market strategies; talent acquisition and retainment; and Disney's Launchpad, which is an incubator for diverse emerging filmmakers. Previously, Marya built a national cultural nonprofit, ran her own company, and worked as a community organizer with impoverished communities.

Janelle Metzger, MBA ’04

Vice President, People Team, Optum

Janelle Metzger is a global Human Resources executive that builds and executes people strategies that create environments where people believe in the mission, are empowered to act on it, and feel like they belong. As the VP of People for Optum California, she has stewarded organizational design programs to improve shared service effectiveness and built the DEI strategy that has led to nationwide changes in LGBTQ+ healthcare at Optum. Janelle also holds board positions for non-profits that support women to become financially independent.

Joan Son, MBA ’16

Vice President & Director, HR Strategy & Business Operations, Capital Group

Joan Son is an HR Strategy and Business Operations director at Capital Group, home of American Funds. She has 14 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for 12 years. Earlier in her career at Capital, Joan worked as a Senior Program Manager for the Enterprise Change Office and as a senior business planning and analysis manager for North America Client Group.

Michele Turner, BS ’81, EdD ’14

Associate Vice President, Office of Business Diversity and Economic Opportunity (BDEO), University of Southern California

Michele Turner is currently tasked with building and leading the University of Southern California's Office of Business Diversity and Economic Opportunity (BDEO), reporting under USC Civic Engagement and Economic Partnerships, University Relations. In this role Michele is creating anchor institutional policy, strategies and frameworks across USC’s academic and healthcare enterprise focused upon targeted business diversity outreach, utilization and impact.

Naomi Warren

Associate Professor of Clinical Business Communication, USC Marshall School of Business (Moderator)

Naomi Warren is an educator, mentor, coach, and consultant with expertise in communication, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recent partnerships include the city of Los Angeles' Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights), the California Association for the Education of Young Children, and several non-profits