2018 Speakers
Thank you to our amazing 2018 speakers! Next year's lineup will be posted here as speakers are confirmed.
2018 WORKPLACE SUMMIT SPEAKERS | 2018 OPENING NIGHT SPEAKERS
Keynotes
Shawn Achor
SHAWN ACHOR is the New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Advantage and Before Happiness. His most recent book, titled Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our ...
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Amal Clooney
AMAL CLOONEY is a British human rights lawyer practicing at Doughty Street Chambers in London, where she specializes in international law and human rights. She is also a visiting professor at Columbia Law School, ...
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Nick Clooney
NICK CLOONEY has been a broadcaster since he was sixteen years old. For most of the intervening years, his focus has been radio and television news. His career has also encompassed hosting talk shows, researching ...
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Elizabeth Gilbert
ELIZABETH GILBERT's memoir Eat, Pray, Love has been called “a generation’s instruction manual” by The Toronto Sun. Exploding onto the scene in 2006, the best-seller famously chronicled the year Gilbert ...
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Jesmyn Ward
JESMYN WARD is a novelist, memoirist and essayist. She is a MacArthur Genius and two-time National Book Award winner and has been hailed as the standout writer of her generation. In 2017, she became the first woman ...
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Maysoon Zayid
MAYSOON ZAYID is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of, and a guest comedian in residence at, Arizona State University. Zayid is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the ...
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Special Guest Speakers
Governor Charlie Baker
GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER was inaugurated as the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts on ...
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Ali Bebo
ALI BEBO joined Hologic in February 2015, and entered the unchartered territory ...
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Renee Connolly
Remarks
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer & Head, Engagement, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany & Massachusetts Conference for Women Board Member
RENEE CONNOLLY is the chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer and head of ...
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Kathy Horgan
Introduction
EVP and Chief Human Resources & Citizenship Officer, State Street & Massachusetts Conference for Women Board Member
KATHY HORGAN is executive vice president and chief human resources and ...
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Katie Thompson
KATIE THOMPSON is a general assignment reporter who joined WCVB in February of ...
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Karen Holmes Ward
KAREN HOLMES WARD is the director of public affairs and community services as well ...
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Breakout Session Speakers
Yvonne Albert
YVONNE ALBERT is head of human resources for MilliporeSigma. Albert joined ...
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Emilie Aries
EMILIE ARIES is the founder and CEO of Bossed Up. Formerly the co-host of ...
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Sally Bament
SALLY BAMENT is vice president of marketing, cloud and service providers with ...
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Brooke M. B. Bass
BROOKE M. B. BASS is the senior vice president and manager, property field ...
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Stacy Dawson Belf
STACY DAWSON BELF is a managing director for State Street Corporation’s ...
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Melissa Ben-Ishay
MELISSA BEN-ISHAY is a mom, baker, and founder of Baked by Melissa, the New York ...
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Elizabeth Bolgiano
ELIZABETH BOLGIANO is executive vice president and chief human resources officer with ...
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Jane Bowman
JANE BOWMAN is the vice president of marketing and strategic partnerships for Boston ...
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Lisa Brady
LISA BRADY is the director of supply chain sustainability at Cisco, leading programs ...
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Terri Bresenham
TERRI BRESENHAM is GE Healthcare’s chief innovation officer, leading innovation and ...
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Lauren Smith Brody
LAUREN SMITH BRODY is the author of The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide ...
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Stephanie Browne
STEPHANIE BROWNE is vice president of talent acquisition and chief diversity and ...
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Valorie Burton
VALORIE BURTON is a best-selling author and founder of the Coaching and Positive ...
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Courtney Carver
COURTNEY CARVER changed her life by simplifying it after a devastating diagnosis in ...
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Francesca Cavallo
FRANCESCA CAVALLO is CCO of Timbuktu Labs, an award-winning media company founded in ...
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Jean Chatzky
JEAN CHATZKY is the financial editor of NBC’s TODAY show, is an award-winning ...
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Lida Citroën
LIDA CITROËN is an international branding and reputation management expert who ...
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James Clear
JAMES CLEAR is an author and speaker focused on habits, decision-making, and ...
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Kem Danner
KEM DANNER is the head of human resources and senior vice president for State Street ...
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Meredith DeWitt
MEREDITH DeWITT is the founder and principal of MJD Associates, LLC, a boutique ...
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Kellyanne Dignan
KELLYANNE DIGNAN is director of global corporate affairs with Ocean Spray. In this ...
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Kate Dobbs
KATE DOBBS has the privilege to serve as senior vice president of marketing and ...
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Kristy Dunchak
KRISTY DUNCHAK is a senior director of product management for Tyco converged ...
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Judy A. Durkin
JUDY A. DURKIN is vice president of financial planning and analysis at Raytheon ...
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Christine M. Fandozzi
CHRISTINE M. FANDOZZI, PhD is associate vice president at Merck Research ...
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Dr. Christina Farup
DR. CHRISTINA FARUP is vice president of transformation and change management for ...
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Sanam Razzaghi Feldman
SANAM RAZZAGHI FELDMAN leads global people strategy and development initiatives ...
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Meredith Flynn-Ripley
MEREDITH FLYNN-RIPLEY is vice president of mobile messaging at Salesforce, where ...
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Mary-Jo Gagliardi
MARY-JO GAGLIARDI is a senior vice president of human resources and leads HR for ...
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Francesca Gino
FRANCESCA GINO is an award-winning researcher, and the Tandon family professor of ...
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Melody Godfred
MELODY GODFRED is an entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She practiced law as a ...
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Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
DR. MARSHALL GOLDSMITH is the world authority in helping successful leaders achieve ...
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Loi Sessions Goulet
LOI SESSIONS GOULET leads the research team at TripAdvisor. After establishing the ...
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Sarah Grimwood
SARAH GRIMWOOD is the head of portfolio, strategy and operations, and chief of ...
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Kate Gulliver
KATE GULLIVER oversees the talent team at Wayfair, where she is responsible for ...
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Blair Hammond
BLAIR HAMMOND is a global marketer, specializing in digital brand management. As ...
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Martie Haselton
MARTIE HASELTON, PhD is the world’s leading researcher on sexuality and the ...
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Fran Hauser
FRAN HAUSER is a long-time media executive, startup investor and author of The Myth ...
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Susan Hayes
SUSAN HAYES is a supply chain vice president in product operations, with Cisco ...
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Amanda Healy
AMANDA HEALY is an award-winning B2B marketing demand generation leader and ...
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Sally Helgesen
SALLY HELGESEN is considered the gold standard among experts on women’s ...
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Dr. Ellen Hendriksen
DR. ELLEN HENDRIKSEN is a clinical psychologist who helps millions calm their ...
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Linda Henry
LINDA HENRY is the managing director of the Boston Globe and Stat News. She is a ...
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Meredith (Max) Hodges
MEREDITH (MAX) HODGES joined Boston Ballet as executive director in 2014, and leads ...
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Sakina Ibrahim
SAKINA IBRAHIM is an NAACP Image Award-nominated author, social entrepreneur, and ...
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Cynthia Johnson
CYNTHIA JOHNSON is the VP of global data center sales at Cisco. In this role, she is ...
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Katie Rosen Kitchens
KATIE ROSEN KITCHENS is co-founder of FabFitFun. She has led the company’s ...
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Laurie Knocke
LAURIE KNOCKE is senior employment counsel at Boston Scientific Corporation. In ...
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Nataly Kogan
NATALY KOGAN is the creator of the Happier Method™, and an entrepreneur, speaker, ...
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Janet Kraus
JANET KRAUS is co-founder and CEO of Peach, a lifestyle brand with a mission to ...
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Kathy Krisch
KATHY KRISCH is a director in Bose’s consumer wellness division, responsible ...
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Rakhi Kumar
RAKHI KUMAR is a senior managing director and head of ESG investments and asset ...
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Raquel (Rocky) Lachman
RAQUEL (ROCKY) LACHMAN is a brand marketing leader and recently VP of marketing ...
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Ali LaValley
ALI LAVALLEY is the director of global Converse procurement at Converse. ...
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Kristen LaVerghetta
KRISTEN LaVERGHETTA is head of life science global internal communications with ...
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Cara Alwill Leyba
CARA ALWILL LEYBA is a best-selling author, master life coach, and creator ...
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Des Linden
DES LINDEN braved headwinds and torrential rain to become the first US women’s ...
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Joanne Lipman
JOANNE LIPMAN is the best-selling author of That's What She Said: What Men Need to ...
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Cate Luzio
CATE LUZIO is the founder and CEO of Luminary, the premier collaboration hub and ...
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Ellen McGirt
Moderator
Editor-in-chief, Design Observer
ELLEN McGIRT is an author, podcaster, speaker, community builder, and ...
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Jennifer Meade
JENNIFER MEADE currently serves as the vice president of sales and commercial ...
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Gillian Meek
GILLIAN MEEK joined the Keds team as president in 2016. In this role, she leads a ...
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Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan
DR. MYECHIA MINTER-JORDAN is president and chief executive officer of The Dimock ...
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Jessica Morris
JESSICA MORRIS is the digital lumen’s director of application engineering for ...
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Diane Mulcahy
DIANE MULCAHY is the author of The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better ...
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Kathleen Murphy
KATHLEEN MURPHY is president of Fidelity Investments personal investing division, ...
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Nathalie Molina Niño
NATHALIE MOLINA NIÑO is a serial entrepreneur, a super connector and an investor, ...
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Laura Okmin
LAURA OKMIN has been covering the biggest names in sports on the biggest stages, for ...
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Anthony Ostler
ANTHONY OSTLER is currently a senior vice president in the Global Services Americas ...
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Mona Patel
MONA PATEL is vice president of clinical training and fellowship education for the ...
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Carmen Perez
CARMEN PEREZ is something of a Renaissance woman in modern-day activism. She has ...
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Maci Peterson Philitas
MACI PETERSON PHILITAS is the CEO and co-founder of On Second Thought (OST), the ...
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Beth Phalen
BETH PHALEN is president and GM of the data protection division at Dell EMC. She is ...
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Deb Pine
DEB PINE serves as the executive director of the Gloria Cordes Larsen Center for ...
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Colleen Richards Powell
COLLEEN RICHARDS POWELL is the director of corporate citizenship and diversity with ...
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Franchesca “Chescaleigh” Ramsey
FRANCHESCA “CHESCALEIGH” RAMSEY is an actress, writer, producer, director and ...
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Sam Rapoport
SAM RAPOPORT is senior director of football development with the National Football ...
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Shannon Resetich
SHANNON RESETICH is head of rare diseases and rare blood disorders, North America, ...
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Selena Rezvani
SELENA REZVANI teaches women at all levels to negotiate like a boss. She also ...
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Cecile Richards
CECILE RICHARDS is a national leader for women’s rights and social and economic ...
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Britney Robbins
BRITNEY ROBBINS is the founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience, a non-profit ...
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Nishita Roy-Pope
NISHITA ROY-POPE is a senior consultant at Dell, where she has led high impact, ...
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Laurie Ruettimann
LAURIE RUETTIMANN is a former human resources leader turned writer, speaker, and ...
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Dr. Laurie Santos
DR. LAURIE SANTOS is professor of psychology and head of Silliman College at Yale ...
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Cathleen Scerbo
CATHLEEN SCERBO is VP and GM of technology services at Liberty Mutual. In an era of ...
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Hana Schank
HANA SCHANK is a writer, design researcher and technologist. Her most recent book ...
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Jan Schwartz
JAN SCHWARTZ is senior director of engineering for enterprise management tools at ...
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Deb Shapiro
DEB SHAPIRO is a global business executive in the biopharmaceutical industry. She ...
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David Smith
DAVID SMITH, PhD, is the co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor ...
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Alison Smith
ALISON SMITH is a marketing manager at Reebok where she works with the brand's ...
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Jessamyn Stanley
JESSAMYN STANLEY is the author of Every Body Yoga as well as an ...
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Jane Steinmetz
JANE STEINMETZ is the first woman to lead an office for a Big Four accounting ...
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Amanda Stern
AMANDA STERN was born in New York City, and raised in Greenwich Village. She’s the ...
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Simone Stewart
SIMONE STEWART is a senior director for Akamai’s web strategy and operations ...
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Saron Tesfalul
SARON TESFALUL joined Bain Capital Private Equity in 2012. She is a vice president ...
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Jennifer Tomosivitch
JENNIFER TOMOSIVITCH is the vice president of market development for the laboratory ...
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Ashley Tyrner
ASHLEY TYRNER is the founder and CEO of Farmbox Direct. She went from food stamps, ...
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Chris Voss
CHRIS VOSS is a negotiation expert, CEO of the Black Swan Group, and author of the ...
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Cy Wakeman
CY WAKEMAN is president and founder of Reality-Based Leadership, global ...
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Elizabeth Wallace
ELIZABETH WALLACE is the author of The Ambition Decisions: What Women Know About ...
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Nicole Wetmore
NICOLE WETMORE is the director of global HR compliance and Americas operations with ...
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Kristin Wong
KRISTIN WONG regularly writes about personal finance, career, and human behavior ...
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Small Business Roundtable
Robin Golinski
ROBIN GOLINSKI is an energetic and ...
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Annemarie Riley Guertin
ANNEMARIE RILEY GUERTIN is a newly minted author. Her debut picture book How the ...
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Cristen Tara Moore
CRISTEN TARA MOORE is a senior vice president of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors. ...
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Britney Robbins
BRITNEY ROBBINS is the founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience, a non-profit ...
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Wendy Silver
WENDY SILVER is the founder and president of Beyond the Workplace LLC, a boutique HR ...
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Yulkendy Valdez
YULKENDY VALDEZ is the co-founder and a managing partner of Forefront, a premier ...
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Natasha Zena
NATASHA ZENA is the co-founder of Lioness, the digital magazine for female ...
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Tech Roundtables
Chrissy Carroll
CHRISSY CARROLL is a spirited blogger and social media enthusiast. On her ...
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Nancy Chen
NANCY CHEN is a staff scientist in the projects and solutions department at OSRAM ...
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Holly Chessman
HOLLY CHESSMAN was named one of New England’s Top 40 Influencers in content and ...
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Laurel Driskill
LAUREL DRISKILL, aka sugar boogerz, was in a dark place when she found autonomous ...
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Jodi Flynn
JODI FLYNN is the owner of Women Taking the Lead. She is an executive leadership ...
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Shakti Routray Harris
SHAKTI ROUTRAY HARRIS is the global diversity and inclusion leader for the specialty ...
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Jessica N. Levenson
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
JESSICA N. LEVENSON brings over twenty years as a straight-shooting innovative ...
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Angela Pitter
ANGELA PITTER is founder and CEO of LiveWire Collaborative, a digital marketing ...
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