Profiles in Diversity Journal Third Quarter 2022

2022 Third Quarter ® $80 2 022 A W ARDDIVERSITYTEAMS INTERNATIONAL 2022 Black Leadership Awards, Innovations in Diversity Awards and Diverse Organizations Leadership AwardsNEXT ISSUE: INSIDE THIS ISSUE Oracle’s Veteran Internship: Helping America’s Heroes Make The Challenging Transition To Civilian Work By Gerry Borja (Oracle) Q&A New York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle Talks Social Justice with PDJ Tackling Unconscious Bias by Un-Biasing the Processes By Simona Scarpaleggia Uncertainty Avoidance By Dr. Thomas Bussen AND MORE . . . Dr. Andrea S. Tawney Vice President Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso 2 022 A W ARDAMERICANNATIVEINDIGENOUSLEADERSHIP 21st AwardsinWorthWomenWatching®Leadership

Be good at life.™ Working toward a more inclusive future. That deserves recognition. We are proud to acknowledge our very own Cathy Council, VP & Head of the DE&I Center, who has been recognized as a Woman Worth Watching® by Profiles in Diversity Journal®. To learn more about our commitment to diversity, visit newyorklife.com/about/careers/diversity. © 2022 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY New York Life is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity AR11139.082022

The diversity and inclusiveness of our awards and profiles are front-andcenter resources for women and men of all ages. It is heart-warming to see that a number of organizations prioritize nominating candidates for the awards offered by Profiles in Diversity Journal. Please visit PDJ’s website for up-to-the-minute news regarding our current and future awards.

DESIGNER

Asmentors.wemove forward in our daily lives, we count on our leaders to provide safe passage to the future. Here’s where the women in this issue excel, as have the more than 2,000 women we have profiled in the magazine over the past two decades.

1www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

David Toth

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Then check out “Where Are They Now?” to find out what past Women Worth Watching winners are up to now.

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All Things Diversity & Inclusion

To round out this issue, we draw your attention to Diversity Teams and Native American/Indigenous award winners and to helpful articles by diversity professionals at New York Life, Oracle, and Microsoft.

REPRINTS: PHOTOSEDITORIAL:profiles@diversityjournal.comprofiles@diversityjournal.com&ARTWORK:art@diversityjournal.com

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 24 years, we have helped to stimulate organizational change by showcasing the visionary leadership, innovative programs, and committed individuals that are making it happen.

Finally, it is with sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of Marilyn Loden, who is recognized as the originator of the term “glass cei ling.” Thanks, Marilyn, for your powerful voice, enduring leadership, and continued influence. (See New York Times, Monday, September 5, 2022.)

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and may or may not represent the views of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

PUBLISHER'S COLUMN

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Profiles in Diversity Journal

WEBMASTER

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

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Again, congratulations to all the winners in this issue and to the orga nizations that continue to recognize their creative ideas and best practices.

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Dear Readers, I am pleased to present our 21st Women Worth Watching® in Leadership Awards issue—and introduce you to all 85 winners. Congratulations to all. It’s always exciting to profile successful women who have been nominated by their employers and associates. Each Woman Worth Watching in this issue has composed a short essay in which she shares ideas, beliefs, or ambitions that are meaningful to her. And we readers learn just how important mentors are to career success. I think we can all agree that achieving success is not a solo job. Along with her hard work, each winner’s success has been supported and nurtured by her relationships with

These women have met the challenges of balancing work and fami ly, and weathering job and career detours. And more recently, they have dealt with with the recent pandemic, rising inflation, and political turmoil, which has required patience, compromise, agile thinking, and teamwork.

James Gorman

Gemini Towers #1 • 1991 Crocker Road, Suite 600 • Westlake, OH 44145 Tel: 440.892.0444 • Fax: profiles@diversityjournal.com440.892.0737

This issue also offers contributions from Simona Scarpaleggia, strategic advisor and author of The Other Half: Creating Gender-Balanced Teams for Sustainable Success, and from Dr. Thomas Bussen, professor of international business and author of The Rising Tide: A Neo-Collectivist Critique of American Individuality

FOUNDER/CEO/PUBLISHER

Elena Rector

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01 | PUBLISHER ’ S COLUMN 05 | EDITOR ’ S COLUMN 14 | WOMEN WORTH WATCHING ® IN LEADERSHIP INDEX 20 | ORACLE’S VETERAN INTERNSHIP: HELPING AMERICA’S HEROES MAKE THE CHALLENGING TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN WORK 22 | Q&A: NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION’S HEATHER NESLE TALKS SOCIAL JUSTICE WITH PDJ 26 | 2022 NATIVE AMERICAN/INDIGINEOUS LEADERSHIP AWARDS 32 | TACKLING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS BY UN-BIASING THE PROCESSES 34 | UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE 38 | 2022 DIVERSITY TEAMS AWARDS 42 | 2022 WOMEN WORTH WATCHING ® IN LEADERSHIP AWARDS 134 | WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 148 | CORPORATE INDEX INSIDE THIS ISSUE 22 On the Cover: Dr. Andrea S. Tawney, Vice President Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso “This second part of my career has been and will be dedicated to empowering other women, especially my daughters, in every aspect of life— . . .” 2 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Congratulations to INL’s Women

inl.gov/careersLooking for a new opportunity?

Michelle WiestTi any Leavitt

Ashley Finan Krista Harris Worth Watching® in Leadership

Your leadership and vision continue to inspire us. INL is where you belong!

Oracle’s Veteran Internship: Helping America’s Heroes Make The Challenging Transition To Civilian Work

NewQ&A York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle Talks Social Justice with PDJ

Foundation President Heather Nesle discusses the ad dition of a third focus area—social justice—and explains how this new pillar will increase the Foundation’s impact.

By Gerry Borja, Oracle

For being recognized among Diversity Journal’s 2022 Women Worth Watching in Leadership. AARP ShaniCongratulatesHosten Vice President of Audience Strategy Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion The Conference Board Multicultural Marketing Council Thank you for your dedication and commitment to your community. PAGE 22

PAGE 20

4 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Contributor Gerry Borja discusses the need to support returning veterans as they transition to civilian work, and discusses how the company’s Veteran Program, including its Veteran Employee Network and Internship Program, help.

A PDJ Q&A with Heather Nesle of New York Life Foundation

5www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

EDITOR'S

We all tend to be the products of our upbringing, our education, our beliefs. We have learned to fit into our social structures and develop a world view that benefits us. We learn to make assumptions that let us act, rather that think. The prob lem is that all that conditioning, while valuable for meeting family, social, and workplace expecta tions, solidify into assumptions, biases, and prejudices that do harm to others—and to ourselves.

These shortcuts in our thinking keep us from making genuine contact with the people we meet. We look for behaviors and personalities that we are comfortable with, instead of seeing and hearing the person in front of us.

“Dare to be naïve.”

COLUMN

If we look beyond our own expectations, needs, and preferences—and it seems to be a hard thing to do—we have the opportunity to discover interesting and talented people. The shortcuts our biases offer severely limit our possibilities, our chances for success, and our world.

What if each of us could learn to do that in our dealings with other people? What if we could meet each new person with no preconceived notions, no biases, no prejudices? What if we would dare to be naïve?

We may never consider hiring a particular person because he or she is different from us, our families and friends, or our coworkers. They are not what we expect, and that makes us uncomfortable. As a result, we never discover their talents, their ideas, their inventiveness, or their commitment and integrity, because, on the surface, they seem different from us.

As always, thanks for reading.

These kinds of beliefs make our world and our minds small. They turn into stereotypes that are harmful—even cruel. They are also untrue.

When we dare to be naïve in our dealings with people, we leave behind our assumptions, our expectations, and our biases. We meet each person without assuming anything about them, regardless of how they look or sound when they speak or whether they joke around in ways that make us comfortable and relaxed.

Teresa AssociateFauseyEditor

“Everything you’ve learned in school as ‘obvious’ becomes less and less obvious as you begin to study the universe. For example, there are no solids in the universe. There’s not even a suggestion of a solid. There are no absolute continuums. There are no surfaces. There are no straight lines.”

–Richard Buckminster Fuller

So, leave your expectations behind and dare to be naïve. There is much to be gained. And maybe think about these words from Buckminster Fuller too:

Meet PDJ’s 2022 Native American/Indigenous Leadership Award winners, and get to know these dynamic and courageous leaders. You’ll be inspired by their personal stories, words of advice, and professional successes.

PAGE 26

FrantzWard.com FW248 WomenWorthWatchingAd_8.5x5.5_082222.indd 1 8/22/22 10:13 AM 6 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

2022 Native American/Indigenous Leadership Awards

We’ve always known how special Angie is as the Vice-Chair of our Litigation Practice Group, an award-winning and widely recognized commercial litigation specialist, a passionate educator and early childhood advocate, and a dedicated mother of four young children. Her unparalleled motivation and ambition to serve her workplace, community, and family make her a woman to watch!

Congratulations, Angie!

We also recognize all honorees and women everywhere who have made significant contributions to their professions. Their commitment has not only earned them well-deserved respect as leaders, but has also allowed them to positively impact their communities for generations to come.

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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and our experience. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2022 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation. Contact: Shari L. Heyen in Houston at 713.374.3500 / Diane N. Ibrahim in Delaware at 302.661.7000 / Magan Pritam Ray in Silicon Valley at 650.328.8500. Operates as: ¬Greenberg Traurig Germany, LLP; *A separate UK registered legal entity; +Greenberg Traurig, S.C.; >>Greenberg Traurig Santa Maria; ∞Greenberg Traurig LLP Foreign Legal Consultant Office; ^A branch of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Florida, USA; ¤GT Tokyo Horitsu Jimusho and Greenberg Traurig Gaikokuhojimubengoshi Jimusho; ~Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak sp.k. Images in this advertisement do not depict Greenberg Traurig attorneys, clients, staff or facilities. Amsterdam, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Germany¬, Houston, Las Vegas, London*, Long Island, Los Angeles, Mexico City+, Miami, Milan», Minneapolis, New Jersey, New York, Northern Virginia, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seoul∞, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Tampa, Tel Aviv^, Tokyo¤,

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Greenberg Traurig congratulates our own Shari L. Heyen and Diane N. Ibrahim on their recognition as “Women Worth Watching” and Magan Pritam Ray on her recognition as an “Asian Leader Worth Watching.”

LEADERS VISIONARIES TRAILBLAZERS

. GTLAW.COM

Author Simona Scarpaleggia talks about unconscious bias, the categories our biases generally fall into, and the ac tions we can take to eliminate them—from gender neutral recruitment to gender-balanced hiring and promotion lists, and from pay for performance to diverse roles models.

8 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Uncertainty Avoidance

No one ever changed the world with the status quo. That’s why we foster a culture of diversity and respect – because the future of thought leadership depends on it.

PAGE 34

Congratulations to our Leaders Worth Watching! AMD is proud to have – Deborah Nations, Jennifer Wong, and Caixia Jiang among this year’s award winners.

By Dr. Thomas J. Bussen, African Leadership University in Rwanda

INCLUSION INSPIRES INGENUITY

For more information visit AMD.com

Tackling unconscious bias by Un-Biasing the Processes

By Simona Scarpaleggia, Strategic Advisor & Author

PAGE 32

Professor Thomas J. Bussen discusses why some of us, as individuals and as groups, are inclined to avoid uncertainty and risk, while others are adventurous and risk-taking. He also points out external factors that may influence our choices.

Congratulations, Sharon!

To learn more about LincolnFinancial.comFinancial,Lincolnvisit

LFG-81222-ADV001_Z01 LCN-3178883-072720 ©2022LincolnFinancialNationalCorporation.

Lincoln Financial Group congratulates Sharon Scanlon, Senior Vice President, Customer Experience, Producer Solutions and Retirement Plan Services Operations, and all of the 2022 Women Worth Watching honorees. It’s your perseverance and leadership that continue to make a difference in the world and inspire people everywhere to take charge of their future.

is proud to celebrate associate ALISON MILLER for her recognition on Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 2022 Women Worth Watching list Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees! HSGLLP.COM | 425 LEXINGTON AVENUE | NEW YORK, NY 10017 10 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

PAGE 38

Again this year, PDJ’s Diversity Teams Award recognizes those who work together within an organization to ensure that diversity, inclusion, and equity remain front and center. They develop strategies, create and manage initiatives, and most important, learn from organization leaders, employees, and the larger community. Read their team profiles and see why these teams are really something special.

2022 Diversity Teams Awards

PAGE 44

RBC Wealth Management celebrates Chief Administrative Officer Tammy Buchert and all of the 2022 Women Worth Watching in Leadership honorees.

PDJ is beginning its third decade of honoring Women Worth Watching Award recipients and showcasing their talents, commitment, and outstanding achievements. Check out the profiles and essays of this year’s 85 winners to get to know them better. And we’re sure you’ll find nuggets of wisdom that you can use to support diversity, inclusion, and equity in your organization.

Congratulations, Tammy!

NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Visit rbcwm.com/yourpath to learn more about how we empower women to grow and achieve.

© 2022 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member 22-74-01913_74114 (08/22)

At RBC Wealth Management, we foster an environment where women are successful at every level, and we provide programs and benefits to help all of our colleagues thrive in their careers.

11www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

2022 Women Worth Watching® in Leadership Awards

Where are they now?

PAGE 134

You Encourage Us. You Challenge Us. You Inspire Us.

From Left Jill Kaplan VP Operations, Cooper Electric Stacy Stanslaski President, Viking Electric Charmienne Ganao VP Finance, Capital Electric 12 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

PAGE 148

Check out the list of organizations that appeared and/or advertised in this issue. Their contributions are invaluable.

Catch up with another 12 past Women Worth Watch ing® Award recipients and find out what they’ve been up to professionally. Whether they have moved up the career ladder, joined a new team, or struck out on their own, their contributions and achievements continue to impress and inspire.

Corporate Index

Congratulations to our 2022 Women Worth Watching honorees! Sonepar and our employee resource group, Women Advocating Today for Tomorrow (WATT), thank these three outstanding associates for setting the bar high and inspiring future leaders across our organization.

You prove that we are “Powered by Difference.”

Leading through Action

Women at Freddie Mac, who make up nearly half of our workforce, are true trailblazers and innovators, creating the future of the housing industry.

13www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

Theresa Richardson, Chief Talent Officer and 2022 Women Worth Watching Award Winner, is an advocate in supporting the growth of all Women of Withum, including the nine women admitted to partnership this year. withum.com/women-of-withum/

Join us to part be of the journey.

Visit careers.freddiemac.com

Great women leaders continue to raise the bar, inspiring and empowering others to push to new heights.

Vice President, Audience Strategy–

P.C. June M. Inderwies Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer..........................74 2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL 14 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Shani

Development and Diversity....................70

U.S...........................71 GEI Consultants, Inc. Brooke Bennett Senior Geologist....................................72 GEI Consultants, Inc. Katie Unke Ehrenberg Senior Practice Leader...........................73

Advanced

VP–Software Development...........50

GM,

Frantz Ward LLP Angela Lydon

Martinez

W. Hosten

Micro Devices Deborah Nations Sr. Director, Global Communications......51

AARP

Freeborn & Peters LLP Christine E. Hollis

LitigationPartner, Practice Group Vice-Chair.......69

EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer......66

EHE Health Joy Altimare Revenue Officer............................67

Gibbons

Micro Devices Jennifer Wong CVP, Silicon Integration..........................52 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Melissa Schwartz AkinPartner...................................................53GumpStraussHauer&FeldLLP Emma Simmonds AnkuraPartner...................................................54 Taffi Schurz Jaso Managing Director–Data and ArrowheadTechnology......................................55Consulting Kuma Roberts Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer......56 Axinn Lisl J. Dunlop BayerPartner..................................................57US Beth Roden SVP and Head of Communications.........58

Micro Devices Caixia Jiang

USA, LLP Catherine Moy Chief People Officer...............................59 Capital Electric Charmienne Ganao Vice President of Finance......................60 Co/LAB Lending Megan Marsh CEO & Co-Owner 61 Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna LLP Cindy Jordano CooperPartner..................................................62Electric Jill Kaplan Vice President of Operations..................63 Delta Dental of California and Affiliates Sarah Chavarria DentaQuestPresident...............................................64 Kamila Chytil Chief Operating Officer..........................65

of Duty....................................49

BDO

Director of Attorney Recruiting,

Galderma Silvina

Blizzard

Chief

Advanced Corp.

DentaQuest Roxanne E.

Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.....48

Johanna Faries Call

Nordenstohl

Activision

Advanced

Chief Operating Officer..........................68

Head of Galderma

Enchanted Rock Electric, LLC Thais Grossi

Glenn Agre Bergen & Fuentes LLP Skye Tian Gao GoogleAssociate..............................................75 Sylvia Chen Senior Patent Counsel...........................76 Greenberg Traurig, LLP Shari L. Heyen Managing Shareholder, Houston; Global Co-Chair of Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice..............................77 Greenberg Traurig, LLP Diane Ibrahim Managing Shareholder, Delaware..........78 Herrick Feinstein LLP Shivani Poddar HolwellPartner..................................................79Shuster&GoldbergLLP Alison Miller Associate..............................................80 Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Meaghan Gragg HuntonPartner..................................................81AndrewsKurthLLP Shemin V. Proctor IdahoPartner..................................................82NationalLaboratory Ashley E. Finan Director, National Reactor Innovation Center..................................83 Company and Executive 2022 Award Winners (company names in alphabetical order) 2 022 A W ARD INTERNATIONAL Nominate today! Please take the time to nominate deserving Black Leaders from your company or organization. Black Leaders are confident,determined, high-performing, purposedriven professionals who create value for their coworkers, customers, community, and of course, the organizations where they contribute their talents. 2022 Black Leadership Awards are open for Nominations! 15www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

Olivia DePiore

Idaho National Laboratory Michelle Wiest Director, Acquisition & Contracts Management.........................86

Krista Harris

Managing Director, Head of Kroll’s Restructuring Administration and Issuer Services practices.......................93

KellerPartner..................................................88PostmanLLC Zina

(company names in alphabetical order)

Microsoft Corporation Bhavana Bartholf

Melissa Arbus Sherry Partner, Supreme Court and Appellate Practice; Vice Chair, Associates Committee...........................95

Kroll Anne O’Dwyer

Moss Adams Kimberly Sokoloff

KornPartner..................................................89Ferry

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Melissa A. Barahona S. Kim Bash

Vice President & Head of the DE&I Center for Awareness & Advocacy.......105

Patty Arvielo

Idaho National Laboratory

Kroll Sharon Kaur Dhall Chief Information Officer........................91

New York Life Catherine L. Council

Assurance Services Senior Manager....102

Jesusa Chow

Director of Legal Services.....................97

OPTrust

Kroll

Vice President, Member Experience....107

EMEA Management Committee Chair and Managing Director, Restructuring...92

IdahoManager................................................84NationalLaboratory

Christina Pullo

Kroll Jill Weise

Co-head of Mayer Brown’s Supreme Court & Appellate Practice....100

Lincoln Financial Group Sharon Scanlon

Company and Executive 2022 Award Winners

Tanya van Biesen Managing Partner, Board & CEO Succession Canada........................90

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL 16 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Lynn Janulis Partner/Patent Attorney/DEI Chair..........99

Global Head of Digital and Sales Strategy, CSA.............................101

KasowitzPartner..................................................87BensonTorresLLP Heather

Partnership for Inclusion Leadership Youlanda Gibbons, PhD Founder and CEO 108

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Colleen Pleasant Kline

LegalEase Solutions LLC Patrice Asimakis

RBC Wealth Management–U.S. Tammy Buchert Chief Administrative Officer.................109

Tiffany Leavitt Materials and Fuels Complex Business Division Director.....................85

International Model and Inclusion Advocate..............................106

Senior Vice President, Customer Experience, Producer Solutions and Retirement Plan Marshall,Operations............................................98ServicesGerstein&BorunLLP

Co-Founder & President......................104

Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins Sharon Lau Partner and Executive Committee Member...............................96

Mayer Brown Nicole A. Saharsky

Chief Impact Officer...............................94

NewPartner................................................103AmericanFunding

Tribute

Marilyn Loden

Marilyn Loden was an American writer, management consultant, diversity advocate, and the person who coined the term “glass ceiling” to describe the invisible, but very real, barrier that wom en face when it comes to career advancement. As a featured panelist on the BBC series 100 Women, she explored the role of gender discrimination in the workplace. A graduate of Syracuse University, Loden authored three books focused on employee diversity in the workforce, including Implementing Diversity.

"glass ceiling"

July, 12, 1946 - August 6, 2022

Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and SandiaSecretary......................................112NationalLaboratories

ValleyEngineeringDirector–Locomotive&Quality..........................124Bank

VikingPartner................................................126Electric Stacy

Emily R. Whelan

Vice WithumOperations,President–TalentNAM.................................131

Dr. Tracey Morant Adams

HealthTexasPartner................................................119TechUniversitySciencesCenter–ElPaso

Venable LLP DeLong Stanslaski

April N. Koss

Company Executive 2022

and

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP Christine Dunn

Union Pacific Railroad Grace Olsen General

SLACCounsel...............................................117NationalAcceleratorLaboratory

Jennifer Lawry Adams Partner; Co-Group Leader, Health Care.........................................123

Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP

Partner and Co-Chair of the Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group..........116

Senior Manager, Facilities Capital Planning and Acquisition.....................114

May Ling Ng Head, Engineering Department............118

Stephanie

Partner; Chair, Intellectual Property

Partner and Co-Chair of Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group.......................115

Kimberly Pino

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Nicole Friedlander

Seward & Kissel LLP Dora Pulido

WilmerHaleDepartment...........................129

Robin Jones Manager–Building SandiaEngineering.........................................113SystemsNationalLaboratories

The Conference Board

Dr. Andrea S. Tawney Vice President.....................................120

Amy Lui Abel, PhD Vice President, Executive Programs.....121

Christine E. Lehman Managing RenasantWashington,Partner,D.C.Office.......................110Bank

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP Melinda Koster

Tammy Garnes Mata

WashingtonPresident.............................................127CapitalPartners

WilmerHalePresident.............................................128

Truth DEI Consulting Nona Lee UlmerFounder/CEO.......................................122&BerneLLP

Executive VP & Chief Community Development & Corporate Social Responsibility Officer.................111

Williams WilsonHGCPartner................................................130 Jennifer

Theresa Richardson, CPA Partner and Chief Talent Officer...........132

Award Winners

Saint-Gobain North America La-Toya P. Hackney

Giselle Bonzi

(company names in alphabetical

order) 2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL 18 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer............................125

Download nomination forms today! 2 022 A W ARDInnovationsinDiversity INTERNATIONAL Nominate today! 2 022 A W ARDDIVERSEORGANIZATIONSWorthWatching INTERNATIONAL TM Nominate today! 2 022 A W ARD INTERNATIONAL Nominate today! At Profiles in Diversity Journal ®, we truly appreciate all the support given to us over the years by many organizations and businesses, large and small. We’re reaching out and asking for your continued support for our work and recognition of your organization’s own outstanding leadership, creativity, and inclusive culture. Please take this opportunity to nominate candidates for our Black Leadership, Innovations in Diversity and Diverse Organizations Worth Watching Awards. Nominate today! Q4 Awards are Open for Nomination

Oracle’s Veteran Internship: Helping America’s Heroes Make The Challenging Transition To Civilian Work

By Gerry Borja, Senior Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager, Oracle themselves on the back or celebrating their own accom plishments. That’s not how they’re taught to do things in the military,” says Susan Christ, a diversity and inclusion veteran program manager for Oracle’s veteran program

In 1997, after Susan completed

But military service also instills a level of modesty that can actually be a detriment to suc cess in the private sector.

20 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

Susan is someone who’s thought a lot about these chal lenges from different perspec tives: as an United States Air Force veteran looking to find a job, as a recruiter responsible for hiring others, as a specialist administer ing local and federal government programs, and as a passionate advocate for disabled veterans. She brings insights gained from all these phases of her postmilitary career to Oracle, where she is now helping to expand the Oracle Veteran Internship Program (OVIP).

We all know America’s veterans are assets to any organization. Serving in the Armed Forces imbues men and women with incredibly valuable job skills: resourcefulness, the ability to work hard under pres sure, commitment, competence, discipline, advanced technical skills, and enormous reserves of grit and courage.

That cultural difference be tween military and civilian life is just one of several factors that challenge many leaving the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as their spouses, when they look to transition to careers in the private sector.

W

“Many veterans don’t speak out. They’re not great at patting

The Oracle internship “provides an opportunity to become inte grated to this large culture-driven organization,” Susan tells me. “It’s about bridging the gap between the employer and the veteran, and teaching them both to speak the same language.”

Veterans or their spouses who enter the program are assigned a veteran mentor who focuses on helping them develop the soft skills needed to thrive in civilian careers, such as learning to speak the language of cor porate America. Those mentors are provided through MAVEN, Oracle’s Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network.

Oracle has recently expanded this program from 10 to 15 intern ships every season. Some recent graduates served stints of a couple years, others retired from the military with high rank after long careers, and still others are military spouses.

development bootcamp. He chose to pursue that career path, eventually joining a software development team as a junior site reliability engineer. Now, as Dan continues to build out his own software development skills, he is mentoring a new hire to theAsteam.theOracle Veteran Intern ship Program expands, there will be more stories like Dan’s—reports of our nation’s heroes embarking on exciting new career paths.

It’s important to remember that some 70 per cent of job opportunities are generated by our professional networks—members of the Armed Forces typically aren’t building these networks when they are moving from base to base in ser vice of their country.That’s why employment for veterans and their spouses still lags the general population, even though they tend to be more educated than their civilian counterparts.

It’s important to remember that some 70 percent of job opportunities are generated by our professional networks— members of the Armed Forces typically aren’t building these networks when they are moving

”

“

from base to base in service of their country.That’s why employ ment for veterans and their spouses still lags the general population, even though they tend to be more educated than their civilian counterparts. The Oracle Veteran Internship Pro gram addresses this issue.

“The internship provides op portunities I could have only dreamed of when I left the military,” says Susan. PDJ

Gerry Borja is a Senior Diversity & withmentforresponsibleManagerProgramInclusionengageinitiativesCommunities,

six years of service, she found few resources available to help her transition to civilian work. She had moved back to her home town of Pittsburgh with expertise in repair ing complex systems on aircraft, but with no professional network in place or experience navigating the corporate job market.

Interns and Veterans at Oracle. Prior to Oracle, Gerry grew up a proud US Navy brat and also served in the US Army. Gerry has worked at all levels in HR to include operations and manage ment. He has worked for both large corporations and start-ups in the Silicon Valley (San Jose) and San Diego.

21www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

As expected with a group trained never to quit, more than 90 percent complete the pro gram, and almost 70 percent of the interns are placed throughout our company, from software development to marketing to program management teams. They’re people like Dan Lasche, a West Point graduate who gained valuable leadership experience, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, in the United StatesThroughArmy.his Oracle internship, Dan participated in a software

“I didn’t know what a healthy, thriving workplace should look like,” she says.

HN: At the New York Life Foundation, we want social justice to be top of mind and woven into

New York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle Talks

everything we do. That’s why we’ve recently an nounced a commitment to invest $15 million in social justice organizations and programs by 2025. The addition of this third focus area allows us to have more flexibility outside of education and childhood bereavement to further align with our larger social justice ambition across New York Life. While we have certainly launched programs and initiatives in the past that helped address social jus tice-related issues, they fell under our established focus areas. Creating a separate pillar for social justice allows us to be more intentional in

Social Justice with PDJ Q&A

PDJ: Previously, the New York Life Foundation has provided grants and initiatives that serve underrepresented communities through your childhood bereavement and educational enhancement for middle school students focus areas. Why is the Foundation formalizing a third focus area of social justice now?

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“While the New York Life Foundation can’t change the entire system alone, we can fund ideas that could lead to larger systemic change,” says Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation and senior vice president of New York Life’s Corporate Responsibility. The charitable arm of America’s largest mutual life insurer, New York Life Foundation recently formalized its third focus area, social justice. This new pillar joins the Foundation’s already established pillars of childhood bereavement support and educational enhancement for middle school students.

In the following Q&A, Heather Nesle discusses the addition of the social justice pillar in depth, and provides important context, background, and processes underlying the Foundation’s grants and explains how this new pillar will increase its overall impact.

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PDJ: The Foundation’s monetary investments are laudable, but where else is the New York Life Foundation creating impact?

lege and University (HBCU) Hampton University to provide assistance to students in the area of bereavement. As many students may not have the means to travel home to mourn the loss of a loved one, we sought to address this need by creating a funding pool to help them travel home or to a memorial service. To further relieve the financial burden experienced by students who’ve lost a fami ly member or their primary provider, and ensure they can continue their higher education, we also dedicated funds to cover textbook purchases and similar educational expenses for these students. We have also partnered with the school to provide workshops for students facing loss, linking them to resources across campus and giving them the space to express what they’re feeling and receive support. We’re looking to replicate this work at other HBCUs so that the loss of a loved one isn’t a reason for students to put their academic careers on pause or abandon them entirely.

Racial equity, more specifically creating generation al wealth, is a focus for the company and has been for quite some time. From a philanthropic stand point, we can try to make investments that will help to close the large demographic gap in gen erational wealth. New York Life has an opportunity based on our products and services to help start to shrink that gap. With one of the most diverse field forces in the industry, we can provide holistic advice and guidance about financial planning at an early age, as well as how life insurance can support future generations.

our approach to grantmaking in this space, which is outside of our longstanding focus areas of childhood bereavement and educational enhancement for middle school students

PDJ: How does the Foundation define social justice? What’s the problem you’re looking to solve?

Creating a separate pillar for social justice allows us to be more intentional in our approach to grantmaking in this space ...

Furthermore, solidifying the social justice pillar of the Foundation expands our reach and allows us to support historically underserved communities beyond just youth. For example, we recently created a partnership with Historically Black Col

HN: For us, social justice involves working with organizations that advocate for equal rights and access across all populations, especially the his torically overlooked communities that we’ve been targeting through our grantmaking efforts. We’ve been drawn to legal defense organizations that champion equal rights, access to information, and advocacy work, and are looking to educate and effect change within the confines of the law. That’s what helps shape and start to define that larger social justice pillar.

Q&A

While we have certainly launched programs and initiatives in the past that helped address social justice-related issues, they fell under our established focus areas.

We also look for ideas on how to engage in this space from our own employees, agents, and policy owners to deeply consider what we’re doing and how we’re influencing equal rights for women, communities of color, individuals with disabilities, and those who are LGBTQ+.

HN: When we think about impact, we ask our selves: How do we focus in on an aspect of an issue we care about, that may not be widely served? And, looking at it in a systemic way, how do we find piec es within that system to tackle—that can start to affect the larger issue and truly make a difference? What can we do that is groundbreaking or creates a good example? Our work in bereavement offers

This way we can continue to utilize all New York Life resources to create sustainable and scalable solutions to often-overlooked issues that dispropor tionately affect underserved communities. There’s a lot that can be accomplished here, and we’re excited to learn from and partner with others to make a real difference.

In another example, we partner with Judi’s House/ JAG Institute, a community-based nonprofit that provides therapeutic grief services for children and their adult caregivers, and conducts commu nity-based research. We funded their Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) that uses data to identify demographics and populations of youth with the highest incidence of loss across all geographies in the United States. Bereavement centers across the country can then use that data to help understand which groups need the most support, and develop strategies to better reach these Beyondchildren.grantmaking,

Heather Nesle is president of the New York Life Foundation, the charitable foundation created by New York Life Insurance Company. In addition to her Foundation duties, she is senior vice president of New York Life’s Corporate Responsibility Department.

Read more about the New York Life Foundation’s social justice efforts here and here, and New York Life initiatives related to DE&I and social justice, including the company’s $1 billion impact investment initiative to help address the racial wealth gap, here. New York Life’s 2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report can be found here PDJ

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Carolina, supporting their Center for Family History and genealogy efforts.

We try to make a difference with what we have and be as efficient as we can be. We approach our grant giving holistically. We’ll bring our data scientists, our technology team, our volunteers, and our employees—the full breadth of our skills and resources—to understand the untapped areas, identify the underlying issues, educate our popu lace, perform skill-based volunteering, and create sustainable solutions.

PDJ: What do you hope to learn by creating this pillar and partnering with organizations to support racial equity? What do you hope others will learn from the Foundation as a result of doing this work?

several examples.

Q&A

through this new pillar, we are also aiming to amplify capacity support for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) lead ership and nonprofits; developing inroads with nonprofits that can provide training and even job placement; increasing the diversity of the Board of the Foundation; and piloting a program with our HR partners to place mid-level, high-performing New York Life BIPOC employees on boards of non profits to give them more leadership experience.

Currently, there aren’t any true systems in place to identify youth who may have lost a caregiver and need resources and support. Most children who lose a parent are owed Social Security survivor benefits, but very few receive them, which is a large monetary loss for families that can certainly use the funding. Through convening our partners and working with local agencies in different parts of the country, we’re ideating and brainstorming ways to create systemic approaches to better reach youth who desperately need these resources. While our actions may vary grant-by-grant, we are always aiming for long-term impact.

HN: As with everything we do, we’ll approach this space in a way that is authentic to New York Life and to our Foundation. I hope that we meet new engaging and innovative partners that we can support along the way, and I expect, as with our other established pillars, this pillar will become an all-encompassing focus for us.

Additionally, in tandem with our company’s emphasis on generational wealth, we have been working with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for over 20 years. Of note, we are now working to support the library in digitizing numerous ledgers and records, so that people can more easily access and research their own familial ancestry and history. We’re also working with the International African American Museum that’s opening in January 2023 in Charleston, South

For embracing diversity, inclusion, and equity wholeheartedly; for celebrating your many outstanding leaders and sharing their stories with our readers; and supporting the mission of Profiles in Diversity Journal® for the past 20 years; have our gratitude and our respect.

We look forward to another 20 years.

You

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2 022 A W ARDAMERICANNATIVEINDIGENOUSLEADERSHIP Second Annual

Welcome to PDJ’s second Native American/Indigenous Leadership Awards.

For more than two decades, Profiles in Diversity Journal has honored outstanding individuals who have forged new paths, overcome challenges, mentored others, advanced diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community, and excelled in their chosen professions. Again this year, PDJ is honoring Native American/Indigenous leaders with our second annual Native American/Indigenous Leadership Awards.

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The profiles that appear in this issue recognize and celebrate the talents, hard work, and impressive achievements of the Native American/Indigenous Leaders we honor in the following pages. Each award recipient provided us with the answers to some interesting questions, along with an essay, that will give you, our readers, a chance to get to know these multitalented and trailblazing individuals a little better.

The 2nd Native American/Indigenous Leadership Awards PDJ Salutes its Newest Class of Native American/ Indigenous Leadership Award Winners

Allison C. Binney PARTNER

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Sarah Murray SHAREHOLDER

Education: JD, Arizona State College of Law; BA, California State University, Chico Gump Hauer & Kim Koopersmith Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

Favorite charity: Center for Native American Youth and Neighborhood Legal Services Program

Company Headquarters Location: n/a Number of Employees: 1750+ Your

Strauss

What was your first job: Cleaning homes

Family: My parents, eight siblings, 18 nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, husband and step children, and dog, Winston

Words you live by: Do not be afraid to fail; failing is how you learn, and it is what you do after you fail that determines the kind of person you are. When one door closes, another one opens, you just need to look for it and not be afraid to walk through it. The best revenge is success.

What book are you reading? Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. I like to read stories about the lighter side of life, when I’m not working or reading press stories to stay apprised of the latest activities in Washington, DC and Indian Country.

Allison C. Binney PARTNER

Company Name: Akin

University

Who is your personal hero? All the mentors who helped me get to this point in life

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Feld LLP Industry: Law Company CEO:

Interests: Hiking, camping, and basketball

I look back on my life and career, and realize how important it was for me to accept mentorship when it was offered, be willing to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, not be afraid to fail, not be afraid to ask for help, and find ways to improve my mental health. My goal in my career and life is to leave this world with a good conscience.

I was the first person in my family to attend a four-year university. I showed up a week before school started and realized I had no classes, no place to live, and no way to pay for college. I was introduced to a Native American guidance counselor who spent the entire day helping me get all of these issues addressed. Then he asked if I played softball because they needed more women on their co-ed team. I played on that softball team all four years, learned to love school, and was elected to serve as the commissioner of multicultural affairs for the entire university.

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2 022 A W ARDAMERICANNATIVEINDIGENOUSLEADERSHIP

I changed law schools at the last minute when I accepted an offer to visit Arizona State University and met a team of professors and students I knew would be a great support system. I met Don Pongrace, who currently leads Akin Gump’s American Indian law and policy practice, when I accepted an invitation to a dinner during law school with lawyers who represented tribal nations.

Igrew

I did not like school. As someone who did not always have cool clothes or food at home, I often felt embarrassed eating the free breakfast and lunch, or wearing the same clothes on consecutive days. Playing sports kept me in school and provided me a space to vent my frustrations, learn how to productively navigate obstacles, control my emotions, and build confidence. It also enabled me to be a part of a team and have a support system that allowed me to excel.

It All Began with a Muffin and a Cup of Coffee

I was fortunate that my middle school science teacher was also the basketball coach, and he encouraged me to play. I fell in love with the game, and the high school basketball coach took notice and started mentoring me. I played multiple sports throughout high school, but basketball and my basketball coach are what kept me in school.

up in and near my tribal community in Northern California. We were poor and struggled with many of the obstacles that people living in poverty struggle with. I decided that I wanted to become a lawyer around the age of 10, when I got the courage to ask the man I saw every day coming out of the local bakery with a muffin and cup of coffee what he did for a living. He was a lawyer, and that daily homemade muffin and cup of coffee motivated me to become a lawyer.

Industry: Law

Number of Employees: 600

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Sarah Murray SHAREHOLDER

Interests: Music, camping/ hiking/outdoor activities, photography, and eating excessive amounts of watermelon

Family: Lots

Favorite charity: Running Strong for American Indian Youth; The Tacy Foundation

Company Headquarters Location: Denver, Colorado

Education: JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School; BA, University of Maryland

Company CEO: Rich Benenson

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

What was your first job: Funeral singer

Words you live by: Tea fixes everything. Who is your personal hero? Dolly Parton

Company Name: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

What book are you reading? Probably all the Harry Potters for the 7,000th time

a culture in which everyone is “self-made,” we sometimes find it difficult to acknowledge the tremendous influence solid mentors have on our career trajec tory. Without the help of stellar mentors and trailblazers, I would certainly not be practicing Indian law and policy.

Without Mentors, Many of Us Would Be Lost

IIn

2 022 A W ARDAMERICANNATIVEINDIGENOUSLEADERSHIP

I have been incredibly lucky to have had mentors guiding me from childhood—a great softball coach, a family friend, the judge I clerked for, and truly amazing colleagues. But one of my most influential mentors, and the one I still lean on most heavily, is my sister, Erin. Many of my personal and professional choices were in fluenced by her example and advice. Erin helped me navigate an early admissions program at the University of Maryland, where she was a student. She even helped me get a job on campus and influenced my choice of major.

I am lucky to have such an amazing resource close at hand. Not everyone has siblings. But mentors can be found everywhere, and I hope that every young person looking for a path seeks out the guidance of someone that person admires. Strong mentors provide advice, help, and important professional connections. Without them, many of us would be lost. I know I would be.

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When she attended law school, Erin invited me to New York City to hang with her friends, subtly (or not) suggesting that a career in law might be the right path for me. Erin joined her school’s chapter of the Native American Law Student Asso ciation, competing in the annual moot court competition and finding community with other Native American law students. Because of her, I could see how my desire to work in tribal communities could be shaped into a career. She helped give me the confidence to take the LSAT and pursue a legal education, and has been my constant champion since.

Every career opportunity or challenge has resulted in at least one call to Erin. She has helped me through setbacks and victories. And, because she is my sister, she has done it for free, or at most for a slice of rhubarb pie—an incredible bargain for the wisdom of my inestimable sister and mentor.

Tackling Unconscious Bias by Un-Biasing the Processes

In this example, the decision to choose high stools was probably taken by an individual who uncon sciously expected most of the pan elists to be men, and therefore of a certain height. It is unlikely that they took into account that wom en are on average much shorter than men, or that a man or woman from Mexico or Vietnam is typi cally much shorter than someone from the United States or Western Europe. I also doubt whether they had considered what people might wear—a high stool might not be appropriate for a woman in a skirt. And I very much doubt they considered whether any of the panelists had mobility issues.

By Simona Scarpaleggia

To be clear, unconscious bias is not limited to gender. It also arises in relation to ethnicity and other visible noOnlycharacteristicsdiversitysuchasheight,bodyweight,andevennames.aftersometime,andwhenoneelseemerged,didthey

PILOT’S PROGRESS

Unconscious bias is nothing new.

In more recent times, a woman in the United States recounted her experience parking in a Veterans and Military parking spot. As she got out of her car, she was con fronted by a man who shouted, “That spot is for vets, ya know!”

in 2015, for example, found that most offices set their thermostats based on the resting metabolic rate of a 40-year-old man. This is done in accordance with standard indoor air-conditioning guidelines that date back to the 1960s and have never been updated. Because women tend to be smaller and have more body fat than men, they have slower metabolic rates. Which means current air-condi tioning standards are too cold for most women.

CATEGORIES OF BIAS

finally believe she must have been at the controls.

The point of telling you this story is that it is an example of unconscious bias, and the influ ence unconscious bias has on our attitudes and behaviors toward other people. It can influence key decisions in the workplace and can contribute to inequality, especially in terms of recruitment, appraisals, or promotion.

Back in the 1940s in the UK, newly built aircraft were ferried from the factories to their frontline squad rons by pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary, many of whom were women. There is a famous story of one enormous four-engine air craft landing at an airfield where a party of men waited to greet the pilot. When a very petite young woman clambered out the back, the men remained standing, refusing to believe that she could have flown such a mighty aircraft, or any aircraft for that matter.

AFFINITY BIAS

Some weeks ago, I was invit ed to take part in a panel debate. Being very familiar with such events, I asked what the seating arrangements would be and was told there would be high stools. Since I am rather petite, I didn’t much like the idea of having to clamber up onto a high seat, with my legs dangling over the edge like a ventriloquist’s dummy—without theAventriloquist!conversation to that end took place, and the organizers replaced the stools with comfort able armchairs, and everything went off smoothly.

“I know,” she replied. “It’s nice to be appreciated. Women have been serving for decades!”

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Having perhaps decided to recruit an individual in our own image, we then seek to confirm that we have made the right choice by looking for information that supports our decision and ignoring information that doesn’t quite fit the narrative we have formed. This

To be clear, unconscious bias is not limited to gender. It also arises in relation to ethnicity and other vis ible diversity characteristics such as height, body weight, and even names. Our brains unconsciously make quick judgments and assess ments that are influenced by our background and personal experi ences, as well as our concept of societalTypically,stereotypes.biasfalls into one of four categories:

CONFIRMATION BIAS

Unconscious bias manifests it self in other ways that impact our daily lives. A study by two Dutch scientists at Maastricht University

This is a bias in favour of people we like and immediately identi fy with. It often manifests itself in recruiting where we favor a candidate we see as the right “fit,” when actually, we should value diversity and consider what a particular individual will bring to the team.

The key point is one of being honest with yourself, which is not always easy. We all know of examples over the years where we may have had favorites or champi oned one individual over another. To address unconscious bias, it is essential to recognize and under stand which biases you may have, because of your experience, your gender, your sexual orientation, and your own social background. Discussing the issue in an honest and open forum and raising one’s awareness of unconscious bias is the best way of starting to mitigate against it.

The horn effect is the direct oppo site of the halo effect. Instead of only seeing the good in someone, we only see the bad, and focus on their negative traits.

The halo effect comes when our positive perception of an individ ual makes us see everything he or she does as great—effectively giv ing our chosen candidate a halo. This can be dangerous and mean that we ignore other aspects of an employee’s character or perfor mance that could become an issue, or that we fail to pay attention to formal appraisals.

• Use gender neutral language for recruitment advertisements and other communications: by doing this, you will attract more candidates and encour age wider engagement.

• Require a gender-balanced shortlist of candidates for hiring and promotion: this will help safeguard meritocracy and secure equity.

• Promote in groups: promot ing in batches as opposed to announcing promotions on a one-by-one basis will make gender balance more visible. It will make leaders more aware of the decisions they are making and increase trust among employees.

• Pay for performance, not for face-time: the pandemic has shown that the latter was heavily overvalued and that performance can be measured more objectively through relevant quantitative KPIs and qualitative parameters, rather than simply being seen to be working.

• Show more diverse role mod els: it is a very powerful way to encourage everyone to lean in and aspire to an interesting career in their organization.

ELIMINATING THE BIAS BY THE“UN-BIASING”PROCESSES

The list could continue. There is so much that can be done that will help an organization to create a more equitable workplace and a more effective one too.

Being aware of unconscious bias will open a new world of opportunity to you and your busi ness. It is not simply about ensur ing that you lay out the right fur niture the next time you’re hosting a conference or panel debate, but rather that you’re ensuring that you enrich your organization with a more diverse team, with all of the benefits that will bring. PDJ

So, in management, how can you address the issue of unconscious bias and learn to make the right decisions for your colleagues, your business, and you?

can, of course, lead to challenges down the road if we choose to overlook an issue that subsequent ly becomes a problem.

THE HORN EFFECT

Diversity,globalSimonaScarpaleggiaisaBoardMemberofEDGEStrategy,whichisaleaderinEquity&

To address unconscious bias, it is essential to recognize and understand which biases you may have, because of your experience, your gender, your sexual orientation, and your own social background.

Inclusion (DE&I), providing organiza tions with an integrated SaaS-based DE&I solution - EDGE Empowerwhich brings the power of the latest tech, expert knowledge and expe rience, and independent verifica tion and certification into a single solution. Simona has more than four decades of experience in FMCG and Retail, she is a former CEO of IKEA Switzerland, and a former co-chair of the United Nations (UN) High Level Panel on Women´s Economic Empowerment. Simona is a mentor and author, and a regular panelist and speaker, making the case for investing in DE&I and the benefits of improving gender and intersectional equity in the workplace.

process. The best way to create a more effective, sustainable solu tion, is to un-bias the process. This means that when hiring, promoting, assigning projects, or even organizing the seating at a conference, an organization needs to have a proper process that is designed to be neutral, and takes into account how we all differ.

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• Make the application process es transparent: remember that potential candidates also have their own biases, and by hav ing a clearer picture of the process, they will realize that they will not be excluded because of some aspect of diversity they embody.

This will certainly help from a personal point of view, but it won’t mean that bias will disap pear. Indeed, quite the opposite. Leaving the issue of bias to a myri ad of individual considerations and preferences serves to fuel the sub jectivity of decision-making, and in no way contributes to a structured

THE HALO EFFECT

Let me give you some examples:

– Franklin D. Roosevelti

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A good example for this can be seen in a study done on American, Chinese and Japanese graduate stu dents. The participants in the study were presented with two options. Under the first option, the partic ipants would gain an immediate reward. Under the second option, they could potentially receive a bigger reward, but that larger amount had

a payout probability ranging from 5 percent to 95 percent. The partici pants had to indicate which option they would choose. Rational people of course discount the value of that larger payout as the probability of getting it decreases, but the amount of discounting varies by culture. In this case, Japanese and American students discounted very similarly, whereas the Chinese students showed less discounting, suggesting they were

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

These people are said to have a strong uncertainty avoidance (UA).

UncertaintyAVOIDANCE

Think about the future— say, five years from now. Did a tingle of excitement just course through your body, or was it something closer to anxiety, fear, or maybe even dread? As with most cultural dimensions, your answer may vary, depending on where you call home—some societies are made more anxious by the future than others, and thus seek to avoid the risk of uncertainty in their lives.

By Dr. Thomas J. Bussen

The best way for the farmer to reduce his exposure to this risky future may be increasing his stock pile of food—by, in short, becoming wealthier. If the best way to do this is to install new machinery, the farmer is likely to be fast to do just that. If the stockpile remains too small for comfort, he may advocate a study of the sciences—perhaps by pushing his child to study in the university or by willingly paying tax es for a stronger educational system. If the farmer is prone to have his food stolen by the aristocrat, then he may call upon the courts to provide greater legal protections.

employer goes out of business. Their fear of the future, therefore, is much minimized relative to that of their great-great-grandfather. With this greater cushion, they may be willing to take greater risks in their own

future than a wealthy aristocrat. If the crops were to fail next year, after all, it is the farmer and not the aris tocrat who would suffer more.

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It may be that nature coded some of us to be more risk averse than others. Susan Cain’s research illus trates how a population’s variant risk-seeking and risk-avoidance be haviors can actually benefit a species’ survival. “From fruit flies to house cats to mountain goats, from sunfish to bushbaby primates to Eurasian tit birds, scientists have discovered that approximately 20 percent of the members of many species are “slow to warm”, while the other 80 percent are “fast” types who venture forth boldly without noticing much of what’s going on around them. [Researchers be lieve] that both types of animals exist because they have radically different survival strategies, each of which pays off differently at different times. … “Shy” animals forage less often and

widely for food, conserving energy, sticking to the sidelines, and surviving when predators come calling. Bolder animals sally forth, swallowed regular ly by those farther up the food chain but surviving when food is scarce and they need to assume more risk.”iii

the rule of law, of technology, and of science—are precisely those taken by many societies that have a strong desire to minimize future uncertainty. Over time, these are likely to make the society quite stable and wealthy, just as the farmer had hoped.iv Thus the descendants of this farmer are unlikely to give much thought to the possibility of a crop failure. The granaries of the local Walmart are full, and they can even afford to enjoy their favorite delicacies at French bistros, Italian joints, and steakhouses. They are more likely to be educated and more likely to be employable in a variety of fields—perhaps even a variety of countries—in the event the prover bial crops fail and one’s immediate

Adam Grant, in his work Originals: How Non-Comformists Move the World, noted that researchers Frank Sulloway and Richard Zweigenhaft made a surprising statistical find ing involving professional baseball players. As it happens, the most prolific base stealers in history are predominantly younger brothers. They found that younger brothers attempt to steal a base 10.6 times more often than major leaguers who are older brothers, and when the attempt is made, they are 3.2 times more successful.v The cor

A similar survival mechanism may help explain the diversity of risk aversion in human societies. But our level of risk aversion is not just a natural occurrence. Just as animals would over time learn to be more ad venturous when food levels fall, and less adventurous when predators rise, so too is our risk aversion likely to be higher where the future is objectively dangerous than in situations where it is safer. It is clear, for example, that a poor farmer has more to fear of the

But our level of risk aversion is not just a natural occurrence. Just as animals would over time learn to be more adventurous when food levels fall, and less adventurous when predators rise, so too is our risk aversion likely to be higher where the future is objectively dangerous than in situations where it is safer.

These actions—the embrace of

This idea that the environment in which we live affects our risk tolerance is more than speculation.

less risk averse.ii

If,lives.however, the state is too weak to staff the universities with scien tists, to collect taxes for the educa tional system, and too fractious to impose restrictions on the rogue aristocrat, then the farmer is likely to rely on self-help mechanisms. For instance, he may band together with other precariously situated farmers to uphold justice, and perhaps use this force to steal from others during times of scarcity. In this case, the great-great-grandchil dren of this farmer will be in much the same position as their ancestor,

and still rather exposed to, and thus concerned about, the future.

Researchers found that, indeed, younger children are more likely to take risks in their personal and professional lives: they are more likely to go against the status quo as scientists, and more likely to take risks as politicians.

Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Discounting Delayed And Probabilistic Rewards, 52 THE PSYCHOLOGI CAL RECORD 479-492 (2002).

iv Mary Sully de Luque & Mansour Javidan, Uncertainty Avoidance, in CULTURE, LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS: THE GLOBE STUDY OF 62 SOCIETIES 630 (eds. Robert House, Paul J. Hanges, Mansour Javidan, Peter W. Dorfman & Vipin Gupta, SAGE Publications) (2004).

v Related in GRANT, supra note 72 at 140 (citing to Frank J. Sulloway & Richard L. Zweigenhaft, Birth Order and Risk Taking in Athletics: A MetaAnalysis and Study of Major League Baseball, 14 PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 402–416 (2010).).

vii Id. at 144 (citing to DEAN KEITH SIMONTON, Greatness: Who Makes History and Why (New York: Guilford Press, 1994)).

Why would this happen? The reason may be that parents are more likely to coddle younger children, which leads those children to view the world around them as less threat ening than older children. This may contribute to positive risk-taking behavior. Less favorably, parents may alternatively pay less attention to younger children, leading to a world view in which there are few conse quences for wrongdoing and which may lead to negative risk-taking behavior. Just like the farmer and his descendants, children are an evolv ing, ever learning product of their environments. PDJ

i 56 Motivational and Inspirational Quotes About Success, BRAIN TRACY INT’L (last accessed July 29, 2018)

iipersonal-success/26-motivational-quotes-for-success/.https://www.briantracy.com/blog/WanjiangDu,LeonardGreen&JoelMeyerson,

relation was so strong that numerous studies have been extended to deter mine whether younger children were less risk averse than older siblings, not just on the baseball field, but in all facets of Researcherslife. found that, indeed, younger children are more likely to take risks in their personal and professional lives: they are more likely to go against the status quo as scientists, and more likely to take risks as politicians.vi They are also more likely to use drugs or alcohol, to perform poorly on standardized tests, and to disdain prestigious occupa tions.vii We would expect that this risk-taking would carry over into the world of business decisions, causing the younger born to be more open to risk. If the statistics on base stealing are any indication, we might expect that these individuals will in fact take better chances than others, if for no other reason than because they have more experience taking risks.

Dr. Thomas J. Bussen, with a Doctorate of Business Administration, a JD, and an MBA, is a professor of international business at the African Leadership University in Rwanda and a cross-cultural man agement coach. He is the author of several cross-cultural books, including Shaping the Global Leader (2019), from which this article is excerpted. He is also the author of The Rising Tide: A Neo-Collectivist Critique of American Individuality (expected, 2022), which makes the case for a more inclusive and globally minded professional ideology. To read more of his cross-cultural and social impact writings, visit biggsandbussen.com

iii CAIN, supra note 87 at 157.

36 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

vi Id. at 141 (citing to FRANK J. SULLOWAY, Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives (New York: Vintage, 1997); Birth Order and Evolutionary Psychology: A Meta-Analytic Overview, 6 PSYCHOLOGICAL INQUIRY 75–80 (1995), and Sources of Scientific Innovation: A Meta-Analytic Approach (Commentary on Simonton, 2009), 4 PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHO LOGICAL SCIENCE 455–59 (2009); Frank J. Sulloway, Born to Rebel and Its Critics, 19 POLITICS AND THE LIFE SCIENCES 181–202 (2000), and Birth Order and Political Rebellion: An Assessment, with Biographical Data on Political Activists (2002), www.sulloway.org/politics.html.

37www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter Please visit both of our websites to see the most up to date articles and awards information. www.womenworthwatching.comwww.diversityjournal.com

We invite you to get to know these extraordinary Diversity Teams. You may discover ideas and strategies you can use to help create a more open, welcoming, and successful workplace. And we know you’ll be inspired by their enthusiasm and commitment.

The Diversity Teams Award recipients we showcase in the following pages use their talents to reach out to an ever-expanding variety of potential hires, vendors, clients, and communities. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are central to everything they do. For many Team members, who at one time or another have felt excluded or ignored because they belonged to a particular gender, or ethnic or cultural group, making diversity a reality is a personal imperative.

PDJ is proud to honor Diversity Teams—groups of dedicated individuals who come to gether to develop the strategies, create the programs, launch and manage the initiatives, and reach out to all employees to ensure that diversity, inclusion, and equity remain central to the growth of an open and welcoming workplace.

Celebrating this Year’s Very Impressive Diversity Teams

This year’s Award recipients are also teaching company leaders and hiring managers to recognize and confront their own biases. Most important, they are cultivating workplaces that invite all employees to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

38 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com 2 022 A W ARDDIVERSITYTEAMS INTERNATIONAL The 4th Annual

39www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

UGF is an innovative, student-led venture-capital fund that provides capital to small business, while giving college students real-world experience in pri vate equity investing. Ally’s team was instrumental in expanding the program to Atlanta last year to provide a greater number of diverse students access to the pro gram to launch careers in venture capital.

Diversity Team Name: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team

Ally, diversity, equity and inclusion are essential parts of who we are and who we want to be. Our DE&I team underscores the importance of these values to our culture through a range of programs, initiatives, and materials that represent the core of Ally’s foundation. The team has taken purposeful steps to weave DE&I through our human capital efforts, from pipelining candidates and onboarding, all the way through the employee lifecycle. Through their unwavering work, the team has helped our 10,000+ employees understand that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce makes us all stronger, more agile, more innovative, and more adaptable. In short, their work makes Ally better in all aspects—financially, operationally, and culturally.

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Diversity Team Leader(s): Reggie Willis

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had an 85 percent retention rate for women and people of color, and 36 percent of women or people of color were promoted or moved into new roles to advance theirUnderstandingcareers. that the path to economic mobility starts best when it starts early, the team plays a sig nificant role in the company’s Moguls in the Making program and its involvement in the University Growth Fund (UGF). Through Moguls, HBCU students are tasked with creating and pitching a business proposal to a panel of executives. Students receive profession al mentoring and compete for scholarships and paid internships. Since the launch of the Moguls program in 2019, Ally has hired 36 interns, with 12 interns being offered full-time positions.

There are many drivers that unite our company under the “One Ally” culture: our passion for our cus tomers; our commitment to making a meaningful and positive impact on our communities; and our relent less focus on delivering results and “Doing It Right.” The DE&I team is critical to helping Ally embrace and celebrate our differences, so all employees can be their best. As a direct result of this team’s determination and efforts, Ally is better positioned to achieve its strategic objectives and drive value for associates, communities, and shareholders.

The DE&I team’s work is consistently reinforced by executive leadership through messages during town hall meetings and employee communications. The team’s reach and influence are proven through Ally’s high level of employee resource group (ERG) partic ipation. Approximately 43 percent of Ally’s employ ees belong to at least one ERG representing various dimensions of diversity, including Black/African American ALLYs and Pride ALLYs. The DE&I team provides the ERGs the support and guidance needed to develop interactive, engaging, and educational ex periences for all employees, including securing prom inent speakers like civil rights icon Ruby Bridges and Emmanuel Acho, author of Uncomfortable Conversa tions with a Black Man, to generate vital discussions.

Ally Financial

What Makes this Diversity Team Stand Out

The DE&I team also is instrumental in Ally’s efforts to promote a diverse workplace. In 2021, Ally

At

Best & Krieger has a long history of diverse makeup and inclusive culture, which today is formally bolstered by BB&K’s active Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Spearhead ed by partners Sonia Carvalho, Mrunal Shah, Alisha Winterswyk, and Chief Talent Officer Danielle Sakai, the committee and its Firm Culture and Community Outreach subcommittees facilitate ongoing opportunities for BB&K’s attorneys and staff to learn, champion, and candidly discuss relevant DEI topics. Some of the firm’s 2022 initiatives include:

BB&K also works to foster interest in legal careers among diverse student populations with programs such as a Law 101 event for student members of Senator Con nie Leyva’s Young Senators Program. The firm recently expanded its already robust Summer Associate Program to include on-campus interviews at several historically Black colleges and universities, and this year, launched the annual Arthur Littleworth Diversity Scholarship, which will provide an incoming college freshman interested in a water law career with $10,000 in funds. For over a decade, BB&K has also held a Diversity Fellowship/Scholarship Program, which provides a $7,500 paid summer associate position with BB&K.

Additionally, over the past several years, the firm has hosted roundtables, workshops, and training sessions on gender bias, law enforcement and racial tensions, Hispanic heritage, the Americans with Disabilities Act, LGBTQIA history and importance of pronouns, the intergenerational workplace, and more.

• #12 Overall

Best

• Volunteer Month observance, which included a volunteer spotlight series and regional volunteering resources

To enhance firm recruiting and professional development, BB&K’s Recruiting Committee works in tandem with the DEI Committee to recruit, hire, retain, and promote minority and underrepresented attorneys

What Makes this Diversity Team Stand Out

• Law360’s Diversity Snapshot (101-250 attorneys category)

• Black History Month observance, which included a “Journey to the Bench” Black judges panel, cooking class with the New Orleans School of Cooking, Black History Month trivia night, and daily “On this Day in Black History” emails

• #6 Overall

• #4 for Percentage of Minority Equity Partners

• #6 for Percentage of Minority Equity Partners

• #9 for Percentage of Minority Associates National Law Journal

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BB&K is proud of its progress in diversity and inclusion, but recognizes there is more work to be done. The bedrock principle of the legal system is that everyone must be treated equally under the law. The firm celebrates DEI suc cesses, but remains committed to continual improvement.

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Diversity Team Leader(s): Chief Talent Officer Danielle Sakai

• Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month observance, which included a roundtable with San Diego State University professor and San Diego Asian Film Festival Director Brian Hu, a “Stopping AAPI Hate” roundtable with AAPI Equity Alliance Managing Director Candice Cho, and cooking class with BB&K’s Anya Kwan

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Diversity Team Name: Best Best & Krieger Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

• #13 on Women in Law Scorecard

BB&K’s attorneys are often invited to present at external diversity events, and the firm annually receives high marks nationally for diversity, most recently these: American Lawyer’s Diversity Scorecard

and staff. BB&K’s detailed core competencies plan in corporates important aspects of diversity training and procedures to ensure associates are well rounded, hone their talents, and contribute to the firm and community in meaningful ways.

• Women’s History Month observance, which included “BB&K Women Pioneer” tributes

Additional Highlights

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• Our sponsorship of underrepresented law student and professional bar associations, support of early access programs, and involvement in national diversity initiatives.

Diversity Team Leader(s): Mikeisha Anderson Jones, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Milbank

Diversity Team Name: Milbank LLP Diversity Group

Milbank LLP

What Makes this Diversity Team Stand Out

Through our DEI initiatives, we are building an inclusive environment where the individual differences among us are understood, respected, and appreciated; recognized as a source of strength for the firm; and valued as qualities that enrich the environment in which we work.

LLP has embedded diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the fabric of the firm, from recruitment and professional development to work/life integration and commitment to community. We hire and support lawyers and business professionals across broad dimensions of diversity, bringing different perspectives that benefit our firm and our clients.

In addition to our award-winning pro bono program, which focuses heavily on social justice work and correct ing inequities in our criminal justice system, Milbank is regularly recognized as a DEI leader in the legal space. The following are examples of such recognition:

• We were selected as “Best international firm for work-life balance” by Euromoney Americas

• Members of our DEI and Women’s Initiative (WI) committees serve as hiring partners, ensuring that our ideals are integrated at the very core of the firm.

• Milbank also sponsors campus outreach events, where we connect with LGBTQ+ law students, including participation at the annual Lavender Law Conference.

• Our resource groups (more below) also take an active role in the recruitment of law students from underrepresented backgrounds. This includes build ing relationships with diversity organizations at law schools and supporting the pre-law school pipeline of undergraduates through engagement, mentorship, and our Diversity Fellowship Program and Diversity Scholarship Program.

Inclusion and Growth

• Pride (LGBTQ+ Affinity Group)

• APIN (Asian Pacific Islander Network)

Our commitment to DEI is demonstrated by our approach to recruiting of underrepresented groups, including the following:

• WeWomen@Milbankalsosupportseveral regional focus groups in London, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Milbank’s DEI Learning Initiative offers an engaging, global curriculum to everyone at the firm. The program addresses vital topics, such as understanding unconscious bias, leading inclusively, and creating an inclusive culture.

Recruiting

• aADAM (Attorneys of African Descent at Milbank)

• Since 2010, Milbank has held a top 30 rank in The American Lawyer “Top Law Firms for Diversity Scorecard.”

• Milbank proudly observes the Juneteenth holiday in the United States.

• LaMano (Latinx Mentoring and Networking Organization)

We invest in our people through a range of resource groups and innovative programming. These groups offer leadership, networking, and mentoring opportunities that help launch and build enriching careers. Our affinity groups include these:

42 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

• Parenting Group

Milbank offers lawyers an opportunity to participate in our Career Development & Coaching Program and our highly regarded Milbank@Harvard program, which include diversity and inclusion modules. In addition, our WI Committee sponsors leadership, networking, and client development workshops, as well as our SelfAdvocacy Program for junior women associates.

• The firm achieved a perfect 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corpo rate Equality Index and was designated a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.”

• Women Presidents’ Organization and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned and -Led Companies (#42, 2021)

Diversity Team Name: Washington Capital Partners Diversity Team Leader(s): Giselle Bonzi

The diversity of WCP’s team has contributed im mensely to creating a culture that is inclusive, where people can thrive and do their best, while being able to bring their uniqueness to their everyday jobs. At the same time, the team’s diversity attracts and retains top talent, as people appreciate the difference of thought and the richness of conversations and outcomes that these can create. The company’s cultural diversity has helped create an environment that employees enjoy. It has also enabled WCP to achieve impressive results, as

• Great Place to Work® (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

43www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

evidenced by the awards listed here:

• Washington Business Journal, Corporate Diversity Index–Small Companies (2019, 2021)

Washington Capital Partners

Capital Partners (WCP) should be recognized as a 2022 Out standing Diversity Team because of all its innovative efforts in the hard-money lending industry. Since 2018, the company has greatly increased its efforts to hire diverse team members, as well as increasing leadership opportunities for wom en and minority professionals at the company. Today, women make up 52 percent of WCP’s staff, and minori ty employees make up 65 percent. Through mentoring programs, women and minorities represent 50 percent of the leadership team.

• Financial Times The Americas’ (500) Fastest Growing Companies (2020, 2021, 2022)

• Women Presidents’ Organization and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, Women 2 Watch of 2021 (#11, 2021)

What Makes this Diversity Team Stand Out

• Stevie Business Awards, Minority-Owned Business of the Year (2022)

• Mortgage Professional Association, Elite Women in Mortgage (2021)

• Washington Business Journal, The 75 Fast est-Growing Private Companies (2019, 2020, 2021)

While WCP focused on increasing diversity inter nally, the company also carried out initiatives that offer more opportunities for women and minority clients, with products designed just for their needs. Similarly, in 2020, the company created The WCP Foundation, which was born of a long-time dream to contribute to the community, not only through the work that WCP does, but also with the profits from its efforts. Since its inception, The WCP Foundation has focused on ini tiatives that create systemic changes, while addressing social and economic inequalities, such as immigration reform, health disparities, racial inequality, economic empowerment, housing sustainability, and environ mental causes.

• Profiles in Diversity Journal, 2022 Latino Leaders Worth Watching (2022)

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Washington

• Inc. Magazine, The 250 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the DC Metro Area (#59, 2021)

• Washington Business Journal, 40 Under 40 (WCP’s CEO Daniel Huertas was featured as a top business leader under the age of 40 in the DC Metro Area (2019)

• Inc. Magazine, The 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Women Worth Watching®!

Beginning Our Third Decade of Honoring Extraordinary Women in Leadership

44 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com 2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL 21st Annual

We’re proud to present our 21st class of Women Worth Watching in Leadership by profiling 85 more of the talented and hard-working women in leadership who have shattered the glass ceiling and become an important part of the Profiles in Diversity Journal legacy.

Again this year, our Women Worth Watching in Leadership honorees are living their vision, blazing new trails, achieving lofty goals, and lifting others as they climb. We are very proud to present their profiles.

In addition to providing biographical information, these award recipients have also written essays in which they share their love and appreciation for their parents support and encouragement, their academic, professional, and life experiences; their of mentors—and of mentoring others; their gratitude for the opportunities and advice they have received; and their hopes for the future. Their profiles provide a golden opportunity for other professionals to get to know these remarkable women a littleWelcomebetter.to

PDJ’s twenty-first Women Worth Watching Awards.

45www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

46 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com Thank you to all the organizations participating in our 21st Women Worth Watching® Issue

47www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter Thank you to all the organizations participating in our 21st Women Worth Watching® Issue

I am humbled and extreme grateful to be recognized as Woman Worth Watching in Leadership for 2022. Thank you, Profiles in Diversity Journal, for this presti gious award.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Company CEO: Jo Ann Jenkins

Personal Philosophy: Believe. Achieve. Succeed.

As a wife and working mother of two, family has always been my central focus as I evaluate job oppor tunities. At times, I have taken roles that required less travel, and I even found a position that enabled me to

telework when my husband had an international po sition. When my roles required increased travel and responsibilities, he was able to work remotely. Constant communication, the needs of the children at various ages, and being intentional about staying true to each other’s career goals is our balancing act. We focus on progress, not perfection, while also remembering the advice shared with me very early in my career: You’ll likely be presented with many job opportunities, but you only get one chance to be a parent. Putting my family at the center of everything I do brings great joy.

Interests: Travel, kayaking, and creating memories with family and friends

Family: Husband, daughter (22), and son (17)

Shani W. Hosten

Vice President, Audience Strategy–Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Having started my marketing career in consumer packaged goods (CPG), I quickly learned the building blocks of effectively promoting brands. While I saw my product designs on store shelves and promotional cou pons in Sunday newspapers, I lacked the same level of personal fulfillment in my work that I previously experi enced when working in the pharmaceutical industry on life-changing products. As an African American woman, I find great reward in knowing that my work in diversity, equity, and inclusion is helping in some small way to make a difference in bridging the disparities that exist in many communities. I’m excited to see what the future holds, as I continue to let Faith, Family, and Fulfillment lead my journey.

Faith, Family, and Fulfillment

Words you live by: Faith over Fear and Family over Everything

What book are you reading: Finding Me by Viola Davis

What was your first job: Pharmaceutical sales representative, Eli Lilly & Company

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC

Number of Employees: 2,300

Favorite charity: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Company Name: AARP

Education: BS, marketing, Hampton University; MBA, Columbia University School of Business

Industry: Nonprofit

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When I reflect on the factors that have influenced my career choices, three things stand out to me: Faith, Family, and Fulfillment. Being raised by parents, and all four grandparents, with a critical focus on faith provided me with a strong foundation. Keeping faith first was instilled in me at a very early age, and I have been blessed to witness firsthand how faith enables my family to continue to persevere and achieve when faced with life’s challenges. Their altruistic acts, and the use of their time, talents, and treasures to help others, have guided my career choices. This became especially evident when I took on stretch assignments, where I learned to lead with empathy and the strategic thinking that guides my work in AARP’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Having strong faith allays the fears that can be associated with taking on new and increasingly challenging roles.

What book are you reading: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Your Location (if different from above): Palos Verdes Estates, California

49www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Education: BA, Harvard University

Company Headquarters Location: Santa Monica, California

It’s the People

Industry: Video Games/Entertainment

Interests: Faith, family, friends, gaming, sports, travel, fashion, and daily yoga

the process so rewarding and memorable. The more I’ve focused on this as a primary filter for decision-making, the more enriching the chapters in my career journey have become. And of course, the stronger the team, the bigger impact one can have.

GM,

... success is going to be a function not just of brand equity or individual effort, but by the power of best-in-class collaboration, connection, and care for one another. ”

Number of Employees: 10,000

range of career tracks that one can viably pursue. With that much choice, success is going to be a function not just of brand equity or individual effort, but by the power of best-in-class collaboration, connection, and care for one another. As such, the “who” as much as the “what” will continue to be a major investment strategy of mine, and an important guiding light.

Company CEO: Bobby Kotick

Personal Philosophy: Stay curious.

“The people factor” has become a priority lens through which I have often made my career choices.

mentor, and advocate for one another? Is this a know-itall culture or a learn-it-all culture? How is trust cultivat ed? From whom can I learn and whom can I champion as I go? Exploring these more nuanced human ele ments of the workplace has been very powerful for me. Today, people have access to a wider-than-ever

Family: My husband, Scott, and two sons, Samuel and Noah

Questions like the following: How do people engage and communicate with one another? How do they train,

What was your first job: Tutor

“

Company Name: Activision Blizzard

Johanna Faries Call of Duty

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that true profession al fulfillment for me goes far beyond a specific product or initiative; rather, it’s the people with whom I can learn, collaborate, and try big things with that makes

Education: PhD, electrical engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Company CEO: Lisa Su

What was your first job: An electric circuit designer

It is through pure serendipity that my career is in the field of 3D graphics. While in high school, I enjoyed physics and applied mathematics courses. I applied to medical schools and textile universities, which were sup posed to be good fits for girls at that time. However, I stumbled into studying electrical engineering in college and later accepted an opportunity to learn in the United States. Through various circumstances, I changed my focus from signal processing to image processing and then, computer vision. After finishing graduate school, my first job as a staff scientist at Wavetracer was to develop a parallel image processing library on Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) machines, and my next job at Kendall Square Research was to develop OpenGL on Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) machines. Since then, I have been developing 3D graphics tech nologies for over 25 years, mainly at AMD, because I thoroughly enjoy what I do and the journey of learning and contributing to 3D graphics technologies.

Favorite charity: I do not have a favorite.

Embracing Opportunities and Loving What I Do

Personal Philosophy: Be kind and be forgiving.

Company Name: Advanced Micro Devices Industry: Semiconductors

Company Headquarters Location: Santa Clara, California

Words you live by: Live a simple active life.

and helped develop my career. I learned to share my ideas openly, have confidence, and embrace vulnera bility—the opposite of what unconscious gender and racial biases could bring. Sharing my ideas helps others to know me. Confidence comes from constantly learning to gain knowledge and expertise, and from the recog nition of my contributions; challenges and obstacles are expected while working in cutting-edge technologies. Embracing vulnerability reduces work stress and allows me to let go of concerns in order to focus my energies on solving the problems at hand. These are three key ingredients that enable me to embrace the opportuni ties I have encountered, love what I do for more than 25 years, and still passionately want to do better.

Interests: Gardening, hiking, traveling, and cooking

Caixia Jiang

Corp. VP–Software Development

What book are you reading: The Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition by Sheldon Margen

Family: Husband and two children

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Number of Employees: 22,500

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I have been fortunate throughout my career to have had some great managers, and supportive colleagues and mentors, who valued my expertise and hard work,

I feel lucky to have spent most of my career at AMD, having wonderful mentors and sponsors and learning and contributing to creating cutting-edge graphics products. As a woman and a leader in engineering, I benefit greatly from AMD’s culture of diversity, collab oration, and meritocracy. My goal is to give back and help others grow their careers and enjoy what they do by sharing my experience and building their confidence.

Your Location (if different from above): Boxborough, Massachusetts

Industry: Semiconductors

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What book are you reading: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

What was your first job: Account executive, DDB Worldwide

I sought out the technology field as my career choice for two reasons: 1) it’s highly interesting and 2) it’s incredibly challenging. I have always found the “hard” topics to be the most engaging. Technology provides a daily challenge with its fast pace and constantly evolving products to discover and decipher.

It has always been front of mind for me that I have a responsibility to further the impact of women in tech nology. We’ve come a long way, but technology is still a male-dominated field and women have to work hard to earn their place at the table. I come from a long line of working women, and I am committed to continuing to pave a path for my daughters. We are who we are because of the hard work of the people who came before us, and I believe we have a responsibility to further the progress for the future.

It’s my privilege to work in the field of technology, to help further the progress of women in this space, and to continue to pave the way for my daughters.

Interests: Travel and generally, anything outdoors (hiking, running, swimming)

Company Name: Advanced Micro Devices

Personal Philosophy: We are stronger together.

Women have historically made incredible forward progress when they work together. We are masters at driving change by joining forces and having each other’s backs. The same philosophy holds true in the business world. As our world becomes increasingly divided, it’s im portant to remember that we are much stronger together. To that end, there are a few thoughts that I keep in mind:

Number of Employees: 22,500

Words you live by: Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Favorite charity: Planned Parenthood, for their tireless advocacy for women’s health

Family: Husband, two daughters, beloved Goldendoodle

Deborah Nations

• Build your tribe. Whether it’s a mentor to help you manage difficult circumstances, family to support you as you navigate life, or friends to call at the end of a long day, it’s critical to surround yourself with people who care about you and your success. No one does this alone, and none of us should feel afraid to ask for help.

Sr. Director, Global Communications

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Your Location (if different from above): Austin, Texas

Many thanks to Profiles in Diversity Journal for hon oring me with this award. As a woman working in the technology field who is raising two fiercely independent daughters, I’m grateful to be recognized in this way.

• Support one another. Support other women to ensure their voices and ideas are heard and rec ognized. Celebrate and amplify other women’s accomplishments. Openly encourage women to go for it, or privately send them a note of thanks or encouragement. I try to make this a daily habit.

• Give back. Mentor, advocate for, and create op portunities for the women around you. I am so grateful for those who have coached, counseled, or inspired me to do more and be better, starting with my grandmother and mother, and continuing with some incredible women in the workforce. It does not matter where you are in your career; there is someone who needs your help and advocacy. Find that person and make a difference.

Company CEO: Lisa Su

Company Headquarters Location: Santa Clara, California

Education: University of Texas at Austin

Paving the Way for My Daughters

Favorite charity: Equal Justice Initiative

Number of Employees: 22,500

Company Name: Advanced Micro Devices Industry: Semiconductors

Your Location (if different from above): San Jose, California

Welcome Challenges and Never Stop Learning

Education: Master’s degree, University of California, Berkeley

I started as a circuit designer in the Programmable Logic Device Group at AMD. I moved to Xilinx to expand my knowledge of programmable devices. I was interested in how Xilinx was extending the programmable logic space with a very innovative idea, the FPGA. This happened in the early part of my career when I felt very strongly about growing my knowledge and sharpening my technical skills. I was delighted after joining Xilinx, as I found the technology fascinating.

52 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com

your knowledge, consistently delivering, and taking on challenges create the best opportunities for future exciting projects.

As we grow in our careers, building relationships with partners will gradually become more critical. Higher complexity projects require a lot of teamwork to complete successfully. Our achievements will depend on how well we work within our teams and with our partners. I always felt I maximized my project’s outcome when I had support from the right person at the right time.

I am honored to have been selected by the Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of our Women Worth Watch ing in Leadership for 2022. There are many qualified candidates; I am thrilled to be part of this prestigious group. In recent years, I have been asked to share experiences from my career path.

I encourage engineers early in their careers to ex plore new and interesting areas. Not only will it expand your knowledge, it will also always make the job inter esting and rewarding. The key is to consistently deliver high-quality work in your current job. I tell them not to hesitate to tackle challenging assignments and that go ing above and beyond will never go unnoticed. Growing

Company CEO: Lisa Su

I was given the opportunity to grow as a manager after establishing myself in the technical field. This was a lot harder than I thought, and I made many mistakes along the way that caused me to reflect on what hap pened and what I could do better next time. However, learning through such experiences really shaped my be lief in what leadership means. I believe I have become a better leader by committing to improve in each case. That is why my philosophy is never to cease learning, regardless of where I am in my career. It keeps my job interesting, but it also makes me a better leader and, ultimately, a better person.

Personal Philosophy: Continuous learning at all stages of life.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Words you live by: Treat people the way you’d like to be treated.

Company Headquarters Location: Santa Clara, California

What book are you reading: Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters by Steven Pinker

What was your first job: PLD design, AMD

Interests: Travel, gardening, and spending time with family and friends

Family: Single

Jennifer Wong

CVP, Silicon Integration

Industry: Law

A Seat at the Table

Family: My family includes my husband, 18-year-old daughter, and 20-year-old son

Over the arc of a career, one can accomplish so

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

“

Personal Philosophy: Take things one day at a time, while keeping an eye on the horizon.

Company Headquarters Location: n/a Number of Employees: 1,700+

Melissa Schwartz Partner

Recently, a young lawyer who was moving on to a new position stopped by my office on her last day. We had worked together for several years and I had watched her grow into an excellent lawyer on whom

So take a moment and look around the room; ensure that everyone has a seat at the table and if you can’t find your own seat, look for someone who can help make room for you.

Education: BA, Cornell University; JD, Harvard Law School

What book are you reading: Freezing Order by Bill Browder

Over the arc of a career, one can accomplish so many things, and yet when I look back at the past 30 years, what I remember most vividly and value most greatly are the times that someone reached out a hand to me, or I reached out a hand to another.”

At that moment, a senior woman partner strode across

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many of us depended. She said she wanted to express her thanks to me for always noticing—and highlighting —her accomplishments, for ensuring she had a seat at the table, and for the many times I would stop by to simply ask how she was doing. At that moment, I realized I had come full circle.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Company CEO: Kim Koopersmith

There was a moment nearly 20 years ago that I re member as vividly as if it happened yesterday. I walked into my first management meeting and saw a sea of men. While I knew in my head that I belonged in that room, there was a moment when I thought, is there— literally and figuratively—a seat at this table for me.

What was your first job: Cashier at supermarket

Words you live by: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

Interests: Travel with my family, tennis, and time with family and friends

the room and, with a booming voice, welcomed me and found me a seat. That moment is one that this mentor of mine likely would not even recall because, for her, it was completely natural. And from that day forward, I was determined to emulate her each day of my professional life.

many things, and yet when I look back at the past 30 years, what I remember most vividly and value most greatly are the times that someone reached out a hand to me, or I reached out a hand to another. Those were the moments that positioned us for greater successes, as individuals and as a team.

Favorite charity: Washington Hunger Project

Company Name: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

In my view, the changes to the world of work heralded by the pandemic are permanent, and it is incumbent on employers to embrace that change openly and with enthusiasm. If it is viewed as an opportunity to remove boundaries, drive innovation, and achieve efficiencies and improvements in working practice, it can provide a change that will help employers accelerate their businesses and gain a competitive advantage.

Favorite charity: Cancer research

Employers will struggle to retain people where they either push against flexible working too hard (making them uncompetitive) or do not restore in-person connectivity (which can drive the sense of personal investment in the workplace). There is a natural tension between those two drivers, but that can be overcome with intentionality. In my case, I have seen the use of “anchor” days as being hugely valuable in demarcating time for in-person contact in the office and common home-working days.

Interests: Travel, art, music, and family

Partner

Company Headquarters Location: n/a Number of Employees: 1,700+

Family: Husband, Jacob (Paediatric Cardiologist), and children, Beatrice (13) and Noah (11)

How COVID Changed the World of Work

Industry: Law

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What book are you reading: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

With that change, however, has come unprecedent ed challenges. Most immediately, the collision of home and office made it difficult for many people to juggle work and home demands, and step mentally away from work at the end of the day; in my case, as a restructur ing lawyer and mother of two school-age children, the combination of homeschooling and an onslaught of new cases was extremely difficult. While that period is hopefully behind us, there is a new challenge the world of work is trying to address: namely, finding a viable

The pandemic has radically changed the world of work for the legal profession. The shift toward home working has provided an opportunity for people to work more flexibly in a way that could not otherwise have been anticipated. The fact that that change had to be embraced almost overnight, and importantly by all generations, has meant that the rate of progress toward flexible working has been exponentially quicker than would otherwise have been the case. That has herald ed an opportunity to reclaim time away from the office and seek a better work-life balance. It has also forced employers to become less rigid in how they employ and retain staff.

hybrid approach to the return to the office that maintains flexibility, while providing meaningful connectivity between staff and “stickiness” between employees and the employer.

Your Location (if different from above): London, UK

Company Name: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

What was your first job: Saturday shop assistant (record department)

Emma Simmonds

Company CEO: Kim Koopersmith

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Education: LPC, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice; PGDL, The College of Law, Guildford; MA (Cantab), University of Cambridge

What book are you reading: Circe by Madeline Miller

Education: BSBA, Southeast Missouri State University; MA, organizational and professional communication and development, Ball State University

Company Name: Ankura

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC

A personal challenge that I overcame helped me identify what I am most passionate about professionally. I worked for an organization where, at first, there were significant growth opportunities, a clear path to where the organization was headed, and a well-defined role for me. As the business grew, that clear path started to twist and turn, and clouded the way forward. The ambiguity of my career path in a start-up company was challeng ing; yet, while the experience was uncomfortable, the journey helped me more than I could have imagined.

Words you live by: You are the CEO of your life.

I Embraced Professional Growth—Now I’m Doing What I Love

Favorite charity: YMCA

Industry: Legal Technology and Software

Number of Employees: 3,000

When I stopped being distracted about perceived knowledge gaps, trusted my ability to pick up niche

Family: An absolutely wonderful husband, son, and stepdaughter (10 and 9)

skills when needed, and focused on where I could shine, the fear of an ambiguous career path dissipated. I transformed areas of uncertainty into action items. I attended conferences, traveled to our international of fices to understand how our teams excelled, and made educational opportunities a priority.

Taffi Schurz Jaso

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While I enjoyed the challenge of learning all aspects of the business, I realized that my opportunities to drive meaningful change had stagnated. My days became routine, and the personal touch with external and inter nal clients was lost in a culture shift within the organi zation. I had worked at the company for over a decade and was comfortable leading teams. Yet, it became clear that opportunities for growth were narrow, and the needs of the company no longer aligned with my professional interests and goals.

I was fortunate to start my career in legal tech at a time of great growth and innovation. My organization grew from fewer than 100 employees to thousands in a short time. I frequently moved to areas of the busi ness that required the most attention. As I moved from operations to quality control to sales leadership, all in a male-dominated industry, I braced myself before each move, worrying about the gaps in my skills. I learned over time to not be overly concerned with what I did not know, but instead, to focus on where I could add value. My passion rests in organizational and professional com munication and development, aiding in the growth of the business by caring for, mentoring, and leading team members at every level.

Your Location (if different from above): Chicago, Illinois

What was your first job: Director of Forensics and Communication, Clemson University

Interests: Baking, gardening, lifting weights, traveling, and taekwondo

Personal Philosophy: Lead with compassion and humor.

The notion of changing jobs after such a long tenure at a company was terrifying. After much soul search ing, I chose growth, and that decision was the hardest challenge I’ve faced in my professional career. I left a safe leadership role to join an organization where I did not have years of goodwill to assist in enabling change. I am back to doing what I love, developing technolo gy solutions with teams dedicated to excellent client service, while helping others navigate the ambiguity of their careers in this fast-paced profession.

Company CEO: Kevin Lavin

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Managing Director–Data and Technology

I would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for recognizing me for this prestigious award. This resonates with me because my personal philosophy, “Prove them wrong,” came from my mom, who was full of incredi ble sayings. As I worried about how I was perceived or wondered about my ability, tackling those issues with the mentality that I will prove any negative thoughts or impressions wrong has been empowering for me. My mother’s advice to third-grade me has served me well.

Number of Employees: 17

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

As this relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion, I lead with an approach that doesn’t devalue the thoughts of men or white people, but acknowledges that it will take us all to wrestle with the challenges of gender and racial inequality. Creating “light bulb” moments is what I am passionate about when I’m consulting or speaking at an event. If a person leaves thinking, “There is something I can do about these issues,” then I’ve done my job.

Kuma Roberts

Company CEO: Kris Reynolds, Managing Partner

Education: IOM, Institute of Organizational Management, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Favorite charity: American Heart Association, because both my mother and father had heart issues

Interests: Social and racial justice, arts and culture, education, and reading; I also love any Haribo gummy candy

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Family: My husband of 7 years, Floyd, and two kids: 17-year-old Komari and 4-year-old Zeke

What book are you reading: The Influential Voice by Tricia Brouk

Women are generally underrepresented in leadership positions across corporate America and have been for centuries. Gender bias or sexism still operates in our workplaces. It mainly impacts women and girls, although sexism can affect anyone. If a man has previously held the role, gender bias hinders a female when applying for the same position because of who held it originally.

Words you live by: Don’t flinch. Get fearless.

Personal Philosophy: “Prove them wrong.” –My Mom

Company Name: Arrowhead Consulting Industry: Management Consulting

I have committed myself to addressing equity, as I see it as the vehicle to ultimately achieving what is men tioned in the U.S. Constitution, equality. The pursuit of equity is a lofty goal, but one I am passionate about.

Gender bias and sexism lead directly to the “glass ceiling” issue for women. It’s not a myth, but a challenge we must overcome. Racial bias can also attach itself and compound this issue when you are a woman of color. The ceiling isn’t glass, it’s concrete, which makes being seen and valued even more difficult to achieve through out your career. Just think about how the two things

What was your first job: Frying chicken at the Walmart deli

are different. Glass is strong, but it can be broken. You can see through it, knowing there’s something to work toward. Concrete is almost impossible to break through by yourself. Women of color don’t always see opportu nities for career advancement. The concrete ceiling is often impossible to break through with no clear path to the next level.

Creating Light Bulb Moments

What can women do to break through the glass ceiling or jackhammer through the concrete? I believe women don’t need to do more of anything. Companies need to develop programs that value the contribu tions and leadership capabilities of women as standard operating procedure. Through programs such as female affinity groups, employee resource groups, mentorship, sponsorship opportunities, and using data to uncover the gaps in female leadership roles, companies and organizations can create succession plans to ensure that women are not left out.

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Company Headquarters Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Lisl J. Dunlop Partner

While we’ve come a long way, gender bias still affects women at all levels of the legal profession. Those challenges have become even more complex with the “new normal” of our post-pandemic work lives.

I think these concerns are heightened when it comes to women and their advancement within law firms and other organizations. In order to advance, women need to be visible and active participants in the firm, and to develop deep relationships with mentors and clients. But remote work makes visibility and peer/ mentor support more difficult. Without regular face-toface, non-billable interactions, we strain the personal connections that keep a focus on supporting women, or never develop them in the first place. Although the convenience factor makes remote work attractive (I like spending the day in my leggings and hoodie with the best of them), it may not best serve women, particularly women working in a traditional law-firm environment.

What was your first job: Cashier at local grocery store

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

According to the ABA study, coming out of the pandemic, many lawyers report wanting to continue with the flexibility permitted by remote working—77 percent preferring fewer than four days a week in the office. But law firm leaders are concerned about the long-term implications for team-building, mentoring,

Favorite charity: Southern Poverty Law Center

Industry: Law

The Post-Pandemic “New Normal” and Women in the Legal Profession

Company Name: Axinn

We need to think about new policies, programs, and strategies to support and encourage women and all minorities in the current environment. In addition to firm programs that are important to women, such as family care resources and permitting remote or hybrid work, we need to adapt our traditional pathways to advancement and business development to provide room for women to bring their skills to bear. We also need to heighten awareness of the need to, and innovative means to, provide mentorship.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Words you live by: Just keep swimming . . . .

Personal Philosophy: There are no failures; just opportunities to learn.

What book are you reading: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

These issues particularly impacted women. According to a 2021 ABA study, Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward, women were disproportionately more likely to experience disruption on account of fami ly and household issues, feel overwhelmed, and experi ence stress about work and advancement.

Company CEO: Matthew Becker, Managing Partner

The pandemic had a profound impact on work in the legal profession. Remote work not only posed logistical challenges, but also required significant adjustments to keep teams connected, engaged, and productive. We all embraced—and then burned out on—virtual meetings and social hours. At the same time, lawyers working from home had to confront new concerns around lack of access to childcare and other household and personal services.

teaching, and the overall culture of their organizations.

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Education: LLM, Cornell University Law School; LLB, University of Sydney; BSc, University of Sydney

Interests: Sailing all seasons in all kinds of boats, singing in my church choir, and spending time with family

Number of Employees: 160

Family: Married for 20 years to my sailing buddy and partner-in-crime; two amazing artistic kids, aged 17 and 13

Number of Employees: 30,000

Company Name: Bayer US Industry: Life sciences

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Why I Foster a Culture of Self-Empowerment

Company Headquarters Location: Whippany, New Jersey

Personal Philosophy: Be you. Bring your best self to whatever task is at hand, every day.

Fostering a culture of learning and self-advocacy is critical for the professional development of leaders at all levels, not exclusively college students. With the right support system and encouraging mentors, interns are unafraid to leverage empowerment as a

As a leader and a mother of three daughters entering the working world, I’m striving to emphasize the value of self-reflection and mentorship. I’m proud to play a role in enabling students’ transformations into impactful leaders. Moving forward, we should all seek out learn ing moments from our interns and the next generation of leaders, as we can learn as much from them as they learn from us.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

What was your first job: I worked at a Christmas tree store in Corning, New York.

career catalyst. Serving as a mentor for them has shown me that embracing the power of personal and professional introspection crafts a formula for self-awareness that lends itself to empowerment. Internships offer students the chance to dive head-first into crafting new skills and forming new relationships, while evaluating their professional purpose and pas sions. Established leaders aren’t always excited to engage in self-reflection, but it’s that self-reflection that allows us to grow.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, mass communication and journalism, St. Bonaventure University; Bayer Executive Leadership Program, Harvard Business School

Owning my role as a leader means embracing my responsibility to empower the next generation of changemakers. Throughout my career, my passion for helping future leaders be their best has remained un shakeable. I’ve spent decades collaborating with interns at Bayer and beyond, and the energy, inspiration, and authenticity they exhibit fuels me to continually invest in youth mentorship programs. I believe that the value of self-empowerment in one’s career development journey cannot be overstated, and walking alongside today’s students in that journey is a role I’m proud to have.

SVP and Head of Communications, Bayer US

Beth Roden

Family: Husband, Marc; 3 daughters (Emily, Kelsey, and Olivia); and 4 dogs and 2 cats, counting the grands

On the surface, interns are meant to absorb as much new information as possible on the job. They are usually wired to learn from those around them. However, programs like InRoads, FFA, Manners, and 4-H have introduced me to a generation of future lead ers that excel in leadership, curiosity, and innovation. Perhaps most important, their dedication to learning is an invaluable characteristic that has impacted my personal leadership strategy.

Company CEO: Werner Baumann

What book are you reading: Honestly, mindless novels!

Words you live by: “Work hard. Play Hard.” “Slow down to go fast.”

Interests: Travel, boating, beach, and finding new places to eat with friends

This May, I was fortunate to attend an event where undergraduate and graduate BIPOC students received scholarships, and I met a recipient who was taught by one of my former interns. Witnessing the circle of learning and empowerment unfold was profound. It reaffirmed for me the inherent value of investing in the mentorship of our future and current leaders.

Favorite charity: I love Feeding America and the connectivity to local food banks; also a huge fan of Passage Home.

I also believe purpose will continue to be founda tional for an organization that aims to attract and retain employees who embrace and see their place in the company vision. Mentoring can provide that connec tion, one conversation at a time. This will become even more essential as we see a larger share of people entering the workforce who are looking to work for organizations that align with their personal values.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, accounting, Boston College

Alongside flexibility, I believe that we as leaders have a responsibility to make business more human. We need to view employees as people with important responsi bilities and aspirations outside of work. They are also parents and caretakers, artists and athletes, volunteers

Favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Feeding America

What was your first job: First ever job was working in a university admissions office; first professional job was as an audit associate at a global public accounting firm

Family: Married, with three “20-something” daughters, one brother, seven siblings by blood and marriage, and a very select number of “family-by-choice, not by-blood” prized relationships with amazing people

Overall, we have seen that people are looking for alignment between their personal values and the values of the organizations where they work, and it’s driving permanent change. Leaders who embrace the many changes in the world of work—in part, catalyzed by the pandemic—will have the opportunity to create a more sustainable and resilient business, grounded in purpose and focused on an organization’s greatest asset: its people.

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed how the world views work. There has been a shift among leaders from thinking about what is best for business to what is best for the business’s people. The urgency of the pandemic also gave organizations the incentive to boost operational resilience, while at the same time, revisiting their higher purpose.

Words you live by: “Do it anyway” –Mother Teresa

Personal Philosophy: For me, it’s more about the who, how, and why than the what.

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Catherine Moy

Grounded in Purpose and Focused on People

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Industry: Professional services

and community leaders. We want to be able to give our people the flexibility—and the trust—to make work and life fit together. To accomplish this, we must lead with empathy, incorporate diversity of thought and experiences across teams, and seek connection in an inundated and overloaded environment. We all must feel truly welcomed among our colleagues.

Number of Employees: 10,000+ Your Location (if different from above): Boston, Massachusetts

Company Name: BDO USA, LLP

Company CEO: Wayne Berson

Company Headquarters Location: Chicago, Illinois

Interests: Untimed, unstructured 1:1 conversations; mind-opening reading; beaches at dusk; and uncontrollable laughter around a kitchen table with a home-cooked meal

Chief People Officer

What book are you reading: The Healing Organization by Raj Sisodia and Michael Gelb

Throughout the pandemic, BDO’s core purpose of helping people thrive every day guided all of our deci sions. It’s this purpose that reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a flexible work environment and inspired us to reimagine our approach, allowing BDO to bet ter meet the needs of its people and clients. It’s what helped us ensure that we’re creating environments that are built to deliver results, while also fostering inclusivity and growth for our people. I believe flexibility will no longer be a “nice to have” perk; it will be a key business driver and an important aspect of candidate attraction and retention.

Charmienne Ganao

raise, and your confidence will get the boost it deserves!

Number of Employees: 1,111

Words you live by: Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Favorite charity: Big Brothers Big Sisters

What book are you reading: Finding Me by Viola Davis; Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss, MD

Company CEO: Drew Esce

Decades of hard work, combined with strong deter mination, led to my role as vice president of finance. As a black woman, it is still not unusual to find myself one of the few—if not the only—female or black person at the executive table.

Success Is Yours to Achieve

Company Headquarters Location: Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Personal Philosophy: Keep your eyes on the prize, as it’s within your reach.

What was your first job: Redemption specialist at a mutual fund company

I started in mutual funds, then banking, and worked in various treasury departments for two decades before landing my current role at Capital Electric. In the early days of my career, I was often mistaken for a secretary or member of the janitorial staff instead of a recent college graduate with a finance degree. I used this as fuel—fuel to persevere and confidently walk into a room where the probability of someone talking over me was high. I am human; sometimes I would walk away from these inter actions feeling deeply discouraged. These experiences, however difficult, taught me not to view myself through

Education: BA, West Virginia University; MBA, University of Pittsburgh

To the young, black female about to embark on your career: Don’t let biases or disheartening experiences break your spirit or stand in the way of achieving your goals. Don’t let what others think of you become an albatross around your neck. Always remember that you are in control of your destiny—in more ways than you might believe, including making decisions about your career by taking calculated risks. Keep your head high, keep your eyes on the prize, and stay true to who you are. Success is yours to achieve.

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Interests: Hiking, traveling, and reading

Vice President of Finance

the others’ lenses. It amplified the critical need to realize my self-worth.

My advice to the next generation: Stay true to your self as you adapt to situations and environments outside of your comfort zone. Also, knowing your worth requires homework. Understand the complexities of your com pensation, and don’t be afraid to ask for a pay increase! The worst that can happen is that you’ll hear the word no. The best that could happen is that you will get a

I am inspired by the future generation. They take charge, advocate for themselves, and know their worth. Reflecting on my own career, I know that confidence did not come easily.

“

Family: More than 10 brothers and sisters and many nieces and nephews

To the young, black female about to embark on your career: Don’t let biases or disheartening experiences break your spirit or stand in the way of achieving your goals.”

Company Name: Capital Electric Industry: Distribution

How do you handle the grenades?

There are things you can do to strengthen your men tal muscles—to build GRIT—so you can go after your goals and dreams with a passion and determination that far exceeds any single challenge or difficulty.

How to Prepare for Mental Warfare

Education: Bachelor’s & Master’s degree, business & accounting, University of Connecticut

Number of Employees: 38

Megan Marsh

Favorite charity: Drilling For Hope

Words you live by: Vulnerability is not about winning or losing. It’s having the courage to show up even when you can’t control the outcome.

Personal Philosophy: It takes courage to step out into the world on your own without the support of others and weighted down with your own decisions. Know that courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is taking action and moving forward in the face of fear. Courage is making the decision to own your choices no matter the outcome.

happen. That way, when the battles appear, you will be prepared!

greatest powers you can develop is self-control—to train your mind to go where you want it to go, to handle any situation calmly, and to stand tall when someone doesn’t believe in what you can see or when someone comes at you aggressively. Learning to regulate and manage your emotions is also a powerful tool.

We all go through moments where, BAM, in a matter of a year, a day, or even a hour, our world flips us upside down and inside out.

We all engage in Mental Warfare throughout our personal and professional lives. For some, these mo ments of warfare are handled unknowingly. The problem is that we let adversity keep us from achieving our goals and dreams. I teach others that you can rise above the battles if you develop armor and weapons before they

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If there are two words that sum up many women’s journeys to the top of their careers, navigating gender bias, breaking through the glass ceiling, and especially, while simultaneously having babies or managing families, those two words would be . . .

How do you fend off the assassins who seem to have one mission: to TAKE YOU OUT?

MENTAL WARFARE.

Remember, you can pivot and find success no matter who or where, or what you have been through, including if you need to switch directions or start over.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

I am creating a space where women can thrive in the real estate and mortgage industries by taking the blueprint used by my company and teaching it to others. My cofounder, Andres Munar, and I have created a course titled Mortgage Broker FastTrack, and a franchise called Co/LAB Lending, where women canOneflourish.ofthe

Industry: Finance services, real estate Company CEO: Megan Marsh

What was your first job: Ernst & Young, Financial Services, Manhattan

CEO & Co-Owner

Company Name: Co/LAB Lending

Company Headquarters Location: Erie Pennsylvania

Interests: I love helping others find success and build confidence, which is why I have been devoting my time to building our My Broker Fast Track, an online course, where we teach loan officers and mortgage realtors how to open their own independent mortgage brokerage. I also love to garden and cook, spend time with my family, and travel.

Family: Laban Marsh, husband of 17 years, and 4 kids: Mackenzie (14), Drew (11), Lincoln (6), and Makayla (3)

I am Megan Marsh, the CEO & founder of Co/LAB Lending, a mortgage brokerage that is trying to change the opportunities and mindset of the people, especially, the women in my office and Industry with my message about Mental Warfare.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

What was your first job: Intern at NYU’s Center for Research on Culture, Dev. and Education

Industry: Law Company CEO: n/a Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Being a lawyer is something I do that I am good at, but it is not the only thing. The year I made partner, an accomplishment of which I am incredibly proud, is the same year I got married, and I draw upon a huge well of support from my family. Balance, I’ve learned, brings perspective and confidence, which are two of the most important traits a professional—especially a professional woman—can have. Learning to let go of perfection, which does not exist, has helped me find balance and made me a far better lawyer and mentor.

Cindy Jordano Partner

Education: JD, New York University School of Law; BA, New York University Company Name: Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna LLP

I knew early on that litigation was the right fit for my skills: writing, public speaking, using a mix of logical and creative thinking, and being prone to the occasional flair for the dramatic. But I struggled with the fact that, especially in litigation, there is not always a clear right answer, failure will rear its head inevitably, and the demands of the job can be seemingly endless.

After practicing for a few years, and as I became more senior and took on more responsibility, I looked

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around and took stock of the people I admired and what qualities they had that I thought made them great lawyers. They uniformly had confidence in their decision-making, they knew how to prioritize, and they were comfortable with the unavoidable fact that there are always uncertainties. Seeing this drove me to be come more practical and efficient in how I approached my work. I worked on learning how to delegate and in the process realized how much I enjoy mentoring. I learned to focus my energies on those tasks that truly matter over those that don’t add as much value.

I also strove to cultivate a well-balanced life.

A piece of advice that I try to live by is not to let perfection become the enemy of good. Growing up, I was a competitive, achievement-oriented, type-A perfectionist—if you speak with any of my friends or family, they will tell you that it is no surprise that I became a lawyer. Being the “Miranda” of my friend group was (and, I maintain, still is) a badge of honor. These qualities laid the groundwork for a hard-earned path to success; but they also created the recipe for potential burnout. To create a sustainable and ultimate ly, more successful legal practice, I have learned to let go of the idea of perfection.

Personal Philosophy: You may not know where you’ll end up, but you know how you’ll get there.

What book are you reading: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Interests: Reading, dancing, yoga, and spending time with my family

Letting Go of Perfection

From “You don’t understand my business” to “You don’t know anything about this”—I have heard it all. By entering a highly male-dominated industry, I recognized I was breaking a norm and that to do what I wanted to do, I had to show that I knew what I was talking about. Yes, I probably had to work twice as hard to prove myself. But I kept showing up with the knowledge and knowhow, and the approvals eventually followed.

See Through the Glass Ceiling . . . and Then Break It

Education: BA, marketing, The George Washington University

Industry: Distribution

Company CEO: David Cooper

After I graduated from The George Washington University, I joined my father in his electrical distribution business. My father’s early counsel was that neither the degree nor being his daughter would guarantee me respect among my male peers and customers. I was going to have to earn it.

When my father sold his business to Cooper Electric, a Sonepar company, I remained on staff. I’ve worked almost every job in electrical distribution, including warehouse inventory control, lighting, human resources, accounting, and sales over the course of my 20-year ca reer. I was named vice president of operations in 2018.

What was your first job: I started a wholesale bakery with my sister.

My team did something amazing last year. We built the largest automated central distribution center (CDC) at Sonepar USA. To be the first electrical operating company in our organization that’s fully automated is a career milestone—and a dream come true for me. Our CDC will support the growth of Cooper Electric for years to come. And to that, I clink the glass and say cheers, because I know: the best is yet to come.

Jill Kaplan

I think of the glass ceiling as transparent: I see clearly what I am up against and strategize to break through it. The “ceiling” is not something I would ever let hold me

Vice President of Operations

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back. I believe if you are competent, add value, and ad vocate for yourself and your team, you can continue to move upward. Study the people you interact with and prepare for the curveballs. Learn as much as you can about everything in your scope. You don’t have to know all the answers, but you need to know where to get the answers. I encourage my team to never simply repeat something someone told them. If that’s the case, you need to go back and find out more. It’s the only way to really learn, understand, and grow.

Surround yourself with people who think differently from you. I have a strong personality, but I invite debate because it helps us work out how to do things better. I find it enriching and fun to be challenged. When you cultivate that dynamic, great things happen.

Number of Employees: 965

Words you live by: Always learn and strive to be better.

Favorite charity: 25+-year volunteer for various organizations that support ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We’ve raised over a million dollars through the years.

Company Name: Cooper Electric

Interests: I love to travel the world.

Family: Married for 23 years, I have a daughter, 19, who will soon be a sophomore at Northeastern University, and a son, 16, who will be a senior in high school.

Personal Philosophy: Never have any regrets. Live life to the fullest today!

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Company Headquarters Location: Cranbury, New Jersey

What book are you reading: In Case You Get Hit by a Bus, which was written by my brother

What book are you reading: Appetite for America by Stephen Fried

Company Name: Delta Dental of California and Affiliates

In my more than 25-year career, there’s always been some level of deliberation about women’s performance in leadership positions. While we have made immense strides and demonstrated remarkable achievements, challenges and barriers remain. Bias, whether conscious or unconscious, still exists.

As leaders of our organizations, we have a big opportunity to create a supportive and inclusive environ ment for our female workforce and engage our future female leaders.

Industry: Health care

Company Headquarters Location: San Francisco, California

Favorite charity: The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation of San Francisco, which provides aid for HIV services, hunger programs, and support for homeless and disenfranchised youth and seniors

At Delta Dental, I’m proud of our efforts to create a workplace where we listen to our employees and act intentionally to champion inclusion to take better care of our members, providers, communities, and each other.

One of my greatest inspirations comes from my grandmother, who taught me to truly believe anything is possible. She instilled in me something that I have applied throughout my career—we are all better when we share our stories and take the time to listen and understand each other. With that in mind, here are a

• Remember, you are not on your own. Your col leagues, managers, fellow female leaders, and male allies and advocates are all in this together. There is no expectation that you need to know everything—the ability to ask for guidance is a strength, not a weakness.

Company CEO: Mike Castro

Supporting Future Female Leaders and Embracing Each Other

Number of Employees: 5,000

• Lend your credibility. As female leaders, executives, and colleagues, one of the best assets we have is the ability to “lend our credibility.” When a good idea is shared in a meeting or during a discussion, showing our support amplifies the value of what is being said and shows that everyone’s voice matters.

Sarah Chavarria

Interests: I am a die-hard Westerns fan. I love The Big Valley and Bonanza. I have toured every ghost town in the Southwest.

One of my first jobs was a unique and challenging role. I was a civilian trainer for the U.S. Army, where I was pushed out of my comfort zone and worked predomi nantly in a male-dominated field. I had to learn quickly and adapt and earn the respect of male soldiers. It was a jumping-off point to a career path where I have been fortunate to be treated with respect and professionalism. But, I have also faced adversity, held many difficult con versations, and navigated tough situations. All of these experiences have shaped my leadership style and career.

Family: Husband, 3 children, and 4 dogs

Personal Philosophy: If I have a question about what I need to prioritize, I always fast-forward to my 95-year-old self and ask, “What would she want me to do?” That has helped me remember what’s important and find balance in my career and personal life.

few things I have learned along my career path:

• Don’t be afraid to stand out. A meeting full of men can feel intimidating to many women—whether due to real or perceived bias—and it may feel easier to shy away rather than to speak up. We should always remember to recognize our strengths and feel confident demonstrating our capabilities. When we do that, we make real contributions to our organizations and to our own sense of well-being.

Words you live by: Be your own storyteller. If you allow someone else to tell your story, you take the risk of them driving your narrative in a way that may not be accurate and not authentic to your true self.

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President Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Texas at El Paso

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What was your first job: Civilian trainer for the U.S. Army

The Pandemic Gave Us a New Perspective

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Family: Husband and two sons (ages 13 and 7)

I would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for recognizing me with this prestigious award. I am honored to be included with the other impressive leaders and appreciate the Journal’s focus on the continuity of this award during pandemic times.

and intensity is a great example of one of those adjustments. While in the past I may have relied on formal, large scheduled meetings for my teams, now I organize more thematically and include a strategically broader set of attendees, so that the meeting is effec tive, even if one of the key leaders is out sick. This has helped me continue to drive key initiatives without as many schedule changes and has also exposed more

Personal Philosophy: Be curious.

Number of Employees: 2,400 to 2,500

Chief Operating Officer

dards, and new rules for how to operate in a rapidly changing environment in order to get our teams acclimat ed to the changes. We have to be ahead of the change curve in order to help others navigate it at the speed that matters to them. We have to be available, calm, and able to disseminate, with confidence, information that may have just become available to us minutes before. This is so different from the traditional focus on preparation and planning that had dominated business in the past.

The pandemic has taught everyone that things can change around us extremely quickly, and as leaders we must adjust even faster to new information, new stan

Company CEO: Steve Pollock

Education: MBA, University of Florida

Company Name: DentaQuest

Kamila Chytil

Your Location (if different from above): Dallas, Texas

What was your first job: Underwriter at Metlife

Flexibility and the resulting focus on adjusting one’s leadership style to fit the needs of today’s workforce is a refreshing new theme, and I believe it is here to stay.”

Interests: Traveling the world, gourmet cooking, and running

“

As a society, we didn’t gain many positive things from the pandemic, but we did gain one important thing, and that is perspective. This experience has helped a lot of leaders focus on people and what’s most important to us, rather than the small things or the habitual but unnecessary things that for so long defined the way we worked and what we valued in leaders. Flexibility and the resulting focus on adjusting one’s leadership style to fit the needs of today’s workforce is a refreshing new theme, and I believe it is here to stay.

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Words you live by: Nothing is impossible.

What book are you reading: Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America by Annie Jacobsen

Company Headquarters Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Industry: Insurance

Favorite charity: World Central Kitchen

During the pandemic, I have also learned that working differently day to day is necessary and have adjusted my leadership style as a result. Communication frequency

people across departments to the topics that matter in my organization.

Number of Employees: 2,400 to 2,500

EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer

Interests: Soccer, reading, gardening, baking, traveling, concerts, and spending time with my family

In times of uncertainty, how you confront challenges can either define you or become a barrier to your personal growth and development. ” “

asked myself, “Why not?” or met the challenge of entering a new industry head on, I wouldn’t be doing the rewarding work I’m doing today.

Roxanne E. Martinez

Education: Bachelor of Arts, politics, Brandeis University; Juris Doctorate, University of Denver

Company Name: DentaQuest

my career, reminding me to embrace every mistake and evaluate how I can evolve to move forward. When I began my career after attending law school, I didn’t follow the expected path of practicing law. Instead, I decided to try my hand at a consulting firm, where I had to be open to working in different verticals. One day, I was asked to work on a human resources project. My experience working with this client is what propelled me onto the path that led me to my current role. If I hadn’t

company values: encourage peers to try new things and say yes to opportunities, proactively ask leaders for insights and reflections outside of performance reviews, and remember to step out of our comfort zones.

My parting advice would be this: Embrace challeng es. Be open to learning. Be open to possibility. Accept the unfamiliar as an opportunity to grow. I promise you, you will not regret it. I certainly don’t.

Company CEO: Steve Pollock

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Be Open to Possibility

Company Headquarters Location: Boston, Massachusetts

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Personal Philosophy: Treat people as you yourself would want to be treated.

What book are you reading: Code Talker by Chester Nez

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Industry: Insurance & health

What was your first job: Worked in a produce store

Words you live by: “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

My path serves as an example to the individuals I mentor—whether as manager or as a soccer coach on the weekends—it is my responsibility and my passion to help them achieve their goals to the best of their capabilities. As chief human resources officer at DentaQuest, I not only impart this advice to my direct reports, but incorporate this mantra into the

Life can come at you from all sides and knock you off your feet. The past two years have proven that everyone faces trials and tribulations, whether they’re professional or personal. When I reflect on this, I am reminded of the best advice I’ve ever received—that with every challenge comes an opportunity. In times of uncertainty, how you confront challenges can either define you or become a barrier to your personal growth andThisdevelopment.advicehas guided and grounded me throughout

Favorite charity: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)

Family: Husband, two daughters, and a yellow lab

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Chief Revenue Officer

What was your first job: Assistant account coordinator, Arnold Worldwide

Interests: Popular culture, music, cinema, and all things artistic interest me.

For women, this is especially true. While we have made noteworthy progress, there is still a long way to go in pay equity and increasing the number of women in C-suites. We cannot look up so much that we forget to look behind to see others we can help.

the world we live in is constantly evolving. Exposure to situations, opinions, and environments that take us out of our comfort zones, offers opportunities to expand our consciousness and knowledge base. We also learn and appreciate perspectives other than our own. Our “uniqueness” is what separates us from each other and what makes us interesting. Finally, being challenged contributes to our growth as people, business professionals, parents, and partners.

Industry: Health and wellness

Education: Bachelor of Science, communications, Boston University

Creating opportunities for others through mentorship is particularly important to me. When I was growing up, I had the benefit of guidance from a community of women that included my mother, grandmother, and others. Having a strong family structure helped to build my confidence. Because so many women I have met or are related to supported, poured into, and challenged me, I was able to achieve many of my goals. It is critical to open doors for others after you have succeeded.

Words you live by: Choose happiness every day.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Personal Philosophy: You take yourself everywhere you go. You cannot hide from yourself. So, you should not only love yourself, but you should also like yourself. So, choose to be true to yourself and work towards being your best self.

Family: Husband and one daughter

“

Encouraging Individuality and Fearlessness

to the mentor as it is to the mentee. As trusted advisors, mentors lay the foundation for encouraging fearlessness in their mentees by promoting the use of their voices to speak up with confidence when appropriate. Courteous, candid communication is valuable and strengthens relationships—in the workplace and outside it.

Company CEO: David Levy, M.D.

It is critical to open doors for others after you have succeeded. For women, this is especially true. While we have made noteworthy progress, there is still a long way to go in pay equity and increasing the number of women in C-suites.”

Encouraging diversity of thought and individuality, and embracing differences are just some of the rich experiences to be gained by mentoring women. Be cause of these aspects, mentorship can be as rewarding

Company Name: EHE Health

Joy Altimare

Favorite charity: Vital Voices

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Number of Employees: 269

On the issue of individuality, specifically, becoming our best selves happens we are challenged. This is a practical and useful component of mentorship because

What book are you reading: Finding Me by Viola Davis

guided and encouraged me. He told me luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, and that despite not feeling motivated by my then role, I should continue putting in the work preparing for when opportunities presented themselves.

Thais Grossi

Duringadvancement.my“catching up” journey, I identified my favorite bookcase of all, containing books on manage ment, business, finance, and leadership. Anthony, the owner of the bookcase, a coworker-turned-mentor, not only gave me full access to his books, but also

“

Anthony’s advice was the best I ever received, and

What book are you reading: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Family: My husband and I have two young kids, along with our beloved dog, Rambo.

while I may have been over-prepared to perform my payroll tasks, the books I read taught me key concepts and methodologies I apply to this day. Reading also allowed me an escape from reality and the opportunity to dream about my future career. Those were not easy years, but I credit the difficulties I had to overcome then with forging my current perseverance, resilience, and drive.

books as I could read. At the time, I was a payroll administrator with little to no obvious prospects for career

Education: BA, political science, UERJ (Rio de Janeiro State University)

An Early Mentor, and His Bookshelf, Helped Me Succeed

In 2007, when I moved from Brazil to the United States alone, I felt a dire need to catch up. In my mind, everyone here already had the knowledge and tools to succeed, but I didn’t. On a tight budget, I proceeded to scan the bookshelves of the work colleagues I looked up to most. I borrowed as many

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Industry: Energy

Company CEO: Thomas McAndrew

Words you live by: Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Chief Operating Officer

... luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, and that despite not feeling motivated by my then role, I should continue putting in the work preparing for when opportunities presented themselves.”

Interests: Reading, music, traveling, and learning new things

Company Headquarters Location: Houston, Texas

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Favorite charity: National Women’s Law Center

Personal Philosophy: Better done than perfect.

Company Name: Enchanted Rock Electric, LLC

What was your first job: Databook clerk

Company Name: Frantz Ward LLP

Company Headquarters Location: Cleveland, Ohio

What was your first job: Gymnastics coach

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After having my first child eight years ago, I asked my law firm for permission to work almost exclusively from home, so that I could try to figure out how to be both a new mom and a litigator. I wanted the library story times, the swimming lessons, and the preschool parties. But I also wanted to sit first chair at trial, write complex appellate briefs, and work closely with our cli ents to solve the seemingly unsolvable problems. Even though I was a first-year associate and had done very little to prove myself, the firm agreed and has supported me at every turn. As a result, I have built a successful litigation practice, while working from home. I am now a

partner in a leadership role. I have also never missed a soccer game.

Favorite charity: The City Mission

Interests: Traveling, reading, hiking, and my kids’ busy sports schedules

However, even with the unwavering support of my firm and my family, I often felt as if I was alone on an island. While working from home made my life possi ble, I felt guilty that I could not attend client pitches because I was volunteering in kindergarten. I hated missing pediatrician visits because I was prepping for trial. I felt, as so many employees did, that the ideal of “work-life balance” was unattainable.

Education: JD, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

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As an attorney, I have the privilege of working closely with businesses of all shapes and sizes—from Fortune 500 companies to two-person startups—as well as attor neys in every practice and at every stage of life. I can’t think of a single client or colleague whose work life has not dramatically changed over the last two years. From where I sit (specifically, in my home office with a toddler on my lap who is pretending to take an important call from a judge), I see this post-pandemic work environ ment as an opportunity. It is an opportunity for employ ers to evaluate their workplaces and make changes that support their employees’ quality of life, without suffering a downturn in productivity. It is also an opportunity for employees to take meaningful steps toward achieving that ever-elusive “work-life balance.”

Number of Employees: 100

Work-Life Balance in a Post-Pandemic World

What book are you reading: Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE

One pandemic and three babies later, I see a real difference in the way both employers and employees view the world. I no longer feel alone in trying to merge my home and professional lives in a way that works for my clients, my firm, and my family. I see executives of large corporations not only appreci ating what their stay-at-home spouses deal with, but wanting to be involved in the day-to-day. I see managers who automatically evaluate whether that hour-long in-person meeting is necessary, or whether a 15-minute Zoom call would more productive. I see judges who no longer require attorneys to travel across the country to attend a conference that could be held by phone. I see all of this as opportunity for employees like me to help create a professional work world where employees really can “have it all,” whatever that looks like for them.

Personal Philosophy: “If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” –Mary Engelbreit

Angela Lydon Partner, Litigation Practice Group Vice-Chair

Words you live by: “The greatest lesson of life is that you are responsible for your life.” –Oprah Winfrey

Industry: Law

Company CEO: n/a

Family: Husband, two sons (ages 8 and 6), and two daughters (ages 4 and 2)

Director of Attorney Recruiting, Development and Diversity

A successful leader doesn’t materialize in a silo. Relationships, mentoring, and facing your fears help cultivate the characteristics of successful leaders in all industries.

What book are you reading: The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nicole Hannah-Jones, et al

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What was your first job: Legal Recruiter, Special Counsel, Inc.

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While trying to climb the ladder in my career, my then mentor relayed the importance of contributing to your social capital: People not only want to work with smart people, they also want to work with people they like. Investing in your career requires that you create relationships within your industry, network, and office. There is real truth in the adage, “It’s not only what you know, but who you know.”

Christine E. Hollis

Industry: Law

Company CEO: n/a

I’ve received a wealth of advice throughout my life and career. Much of it I have carried with me as I tra versed the path before me and worked to achieve my goals, both personal and professional. My approach to life has been to set goals (no matter how small) and to break them down into the smaller steps it would take to achieve them. I truly live by my personal philosophy of turning my dreams into goals, my goals into steps, and my steps into actions.

Company Name: Freeborn & Peters LLP

Words you live by: Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.

Interests: Upcycling old furniture, golf, swimming, and true crime documentaries

Personal Philosophy: I turn my dreams into goals, my goals into steps, and my steps into actions.

Company Headquarters Location: Chicago, Illinois

Favorite charity: The Open Book Program

I have looked back upon these words many times, as I have struggled with trying to excel in my career and see to the welfare of my father who was suffering from dementia and needing full-time care. Faced with the struggle of making quality-of-life decisions for a parent was a challenge I was neither prepared for nor equipped to handle the demands of; yet I had no choice but to push forward. I had no choice but to face my fear of adequately meeting the demands of my father’s welfare, juggling the needs of my family, and managing the requirements

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask someone for mentor ship. Mentoring is a two-way relationship, and most times mentors present themselves organically, through work and life events. But don’t be afraid to foster and create those relationships yourself. Ask for advice and guidance from peers and senior members in your field. Mentoring relationships with professionals at all levels in your field can provide fruitful exchanges of information. Mentoring provides opportunities, both personally and professionally.

Number of Employees: 234

One of the best pieces of advice I have received came from my mother, whose words provided a solid foundation that I reference anytime I’m faced with adversity or find myself up against the proverbial brick wall: “The best way to conquer your fear, is to face it and then walk through it.”

Family: Husband and 2 children (boy and girl ages 7 and 5)

Education: BA, Spelman College; MS, I/O psychology, DePaul University

Successful Leaders Don’t Materialize in Silos

of my career. Focusing on each decision, each day, and each new challenge one step at a time, while slowly walking my way through my fear of failure, proved successful.

Our office became a magnet—the place where our community felt valued and empowered, support ed and drawn together. The energy was electric; we found we were able to be more creative and effective as a team and as individuals, allowing us to reach new heights together.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, economics, University of Torcuato di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina; completed several executive training courses at the Harvard Business School and Stanford University Graduate School of Business

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It will be critical to ensure that all employees feel empowered and included in the process, and recognize how vital they are to our success. We are prioritizing ongoing discussions throughout the entire organization to create new agreements that will shape our work culture. Instead of issuing a top-down directive, we are encouraging everyone to join the conversation.

Head of Galderma U.S.

During the height of the pandemic, I served as Galderma’s Head of LATAM. Despite the obstacles created by the health crisis, we cultivated an enhanced culture, inspired by deep connections to company, purpose, and one another. We focused on each other and our future needs, rekindling a dialogue that result ed in a reenergized return to the office, understanding the in-office experiences we treasured and could foster when we returned.

Now, as I assume the role of head of Galderma U.S., and we prepare to move our headquarters from Fort Worth to Dallas, Texas, I am focused on leveraging the move as a catalyst for positive change. Leading with compassion and empathy, we are assembling as a

Industry: Pharmaceutical

Number of Employees: 5,700

Family: Husband and daughter (5 years old)

Words you live by: Enjoy the journey.

What was your first job: Consulting

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Company CEO: Flemming Ørnskov, M.D., MPH

Favorite charity: Children’s Skin Disease Foundation’s Camp Wonder

Your Location (if different from above): Dallas, Texas (U.S. HQ)

Personal Philosophy: Create environments that enable happiness.

Interests: Spending time with my family and all outdoor activities including sports, running, horseback riding, and travelling

What book are you reading: Difficult Decisions: How Leaders Make the Right Call with Insight, Integrity, and Empathy by Eric Pliner

Company Name: Galderma

Company Headquarters Location: Zug, Switzerland

community to co-create new ways of working, de signed to unite us as we open this new chapter. I want to champion an environment that promotes a healthy culture and growth mindset by being together.

Some of the most pivotal moments in my career happened when people allowed me to be “in the room.” Having the opportunity to observe and learn from others has allowed me to progress in my profes sional journey, and I want to ensure we give everyone, especially new colleagues, those same opportunities for growth and advancement. We’ll never be able to effec tively do that in an all-remote environment; that’s why I believe the best path forward is to create new ways of working that harness the power of in-person collabo ration with the office as a hub, along with flexibility to work away from the office to strike a balance for inde pendent work. Both connection and collaboration will be the foundation of our success. I am excited to forge a path with my new team into this new era.

Silvina Nordenstohl

I’ve always been a person with lots of energy, but during the pandemic, I felt this heaviness—a profound sense of being tired. It heightened my understanding and appreciation of an intrinsic and intangible dynamic of life—the importance and uplifting power that arises from the chemistry of being and interacting with people.

Together We Thrive

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Brooke Bennett

Company Name: GEI Consultants, Inc.

As a whole, life as we knew it came to a screeching halt, transforming us from a busy community with plenty of external interests, responsibilities, hobbies, and social obligations to one with few distractions, little-to-no work relief, and with home now serving as the epicenter for all work- and home-life activities, largely without our support systems. The relief valves were gone, and from the C-suite to the junior level,

What book are you reading: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner; The Wake Up: Closing the Gap between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle MiJung Kim

What was your first job: Lot technician at a car dealership

we were all humanized. We were all experiencing varying degrees of loss, such as loved ones, aspects of our identities, social lives, and jobs.

Interests: Playing soccer, camping, Tenkara, and mixology

Company Headquarters Location: Woburn, Massachusetts

Family: Partner and 2 goofy cats

Company CEO: Ron Palmieri

When we take a step back to evaluate how the pandemic changed the world of work, we may be hit with the obvious takeaway: the larger acceptance of remote and hybrid work. It’s true, this shift in working style has impacted most employees, but it’s equally as important to consider how this change has impacted business’s ability to continue fostering engagement, and to rebuild or maintain a strong company culture in the face of such a monumental structural shift. Prior to the pandemic, companies generally held more control over the workplace norms. Many employees, by nature, or in response to adverse conditions, were inclined to adapt to the corporate or industry defini tions of success and professionalism. The dichotomy of a work-home environment can dilute or diversify these definitions, causing many of us to experience a “career crisis” or reevaluate our career motivators.

Your Location (if different from above): Raleigh, North Carolina

Words you live by: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” –Robert Brault

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Amid all of this and with the heightened focus on political and social values, it seemed creating safe spac es in our workplace became all the more important. All of a sudden, we had significantly more time to evaluate our ideal work-life balance and our ideal company culture, and to consider if these cherished values could be attained by, or were even shared by, our current employer. This question led many to uproot long-standing careers in hopes of finding better environ ments. While this trend may eventually settle, it appears that companies will continue to be challenged to move toward an Employee First Culture in order to improve engagement in remote or hybrid structures and retain and attract talent.

Industry: Engineering and environmental consulting

Number of Employees: 1,000+

No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

Personal Philosophy: Embrace the beauty of imperfection.

Favorite charity: SNAP NC (low cost spay-neuter services)

Senior Geologist Education: BA, geology, University of Kentucky

Businesses will now need to understand their personnel and collaborate to measure success and professionalism. There will be no one-size-fits-all solution, but growth in engagement and retention will follow a shift in mindset from workers acclimating to an established company culture to a company working to build a culture that genuinely represents the values of its workers through feedback and partnership.

Interests: Traveling, creating/crafting, reading, and gardening (native pollinator and vegetable)

There are days when I do not live up to my own vision of a leader. But I think it is important to reflect, improve, and forgive ourselves, as we balance the various parts of our lives. On any given day, I work at being a mother, wife, friend, client manager, project manager, and leader; the attention each role receives may shift, but the importance of each does not.

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Family: My husband, Chuck Ehrenberg, and our daughter, Ella

When I reflect on the leadership opportunities I have been fortunate enough to be part of, and the opportunities that I have helped create for others, my sense of accomplishment and achievement far

Most by Bruce Patton, Douglas Stone, and Sheila Heen; Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

Industry: Engineering and environmental consulting

... I realized early enough in my career that satisfaction has to come from lifting others up, building teams, and making connections; ultimately, the relationships I formed along the way were most fulfilling.”

Company Headquarters Location: Woburn, Massachusetts

What was your first job: Worked at a hotel when I was 15 and then full-time at a restau rant while attending school before my internships in consulting and the energy industry

outweighs the satisfaction I have from my technical and scientific skills. From that, I find my passion and the pride I get from my team as I watch them grow.

Company Name: GEI Consultants, Inc.

What I wanted next was to become the leader I wish I had had. I have had several supervisors, but only a couple who could truly be labeled as leaders, although all have influenced me in some way. What I wanted was someone who would fight for me, someone I could

Personal Philosophy: Work hard, have fun, and help people grow.

Words you live by: The only way to “find out if it will work out” is to do it.

both confide in and joke around with, and someone who encouraged me and provided direction when I needed it, while also giving me autonomy. I was given the opportunity to be that person for others when I joined GEI Consultants, Inc.

Company CEO: Ron Palmieri

What book are you reading: Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters

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Favorite charity: Kiwanis, so many charities are supported through this organization

“

Number of Employees: 1,000+

Your Location (if different from above): Green Bay, Wisconsin

Become the Leader You Wish You Had

Katie Unke Ehrenberg

Senior Practice Leader

people, not to be the best team member. Thankfully, I realized early enough in my career that satisfaction has to come from lifting others up, building teams, and making connections; ultimately, the relationships I formed along the way were most fulfilling.

Education: BS, water resources and soil science, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point; MBA (in-progress), Lakeland University

The importance of relationships was lost on me early in my education and some parts of my career. My goals were aligned with myself—setting my career path and being recognized for my achievements. I had fears of not being the best on a team. Within a few years of starting my career, I had gone through some personal struggles, conflicts at work, and ultimately had time to mature and reflect. I came through that time realizing that I wanted to be part of a team that had the best

In early 2020, I was part of the management team tasked with creating a plan to transition our workforce of nearly 300 employees from in-office engagement to entirely remote operations, which meant equipping our workforce with the necessary technology to continue to serve our clients. Then, as the firm transitioned from all-remote activity to a hybrid work model, I oversaw the preparation of our physical spaces for our return, as well as the policies and procedures we would all

follow, so that we could return to on-site activity safely andTheefficiently.COVID pandemic has illustrated the resilience and adaptability of our employees in ways we could never have imagined. Their dedication to both the firm and our clients—whether working from their homes or their offices—has not gone unnoticed. As a way to reward their dedication, we were pleased to offer our staff one remote workday per week and award 2023 salary increases earlier than anticipated. In an effort to strengthen connectivity and collaboration, we began hosting various social gatherings to give our employees a chance to reconnect while in the office, including weekly mixers for attorneys and free bagels twice monthly for all employees.

Education: BBA, Pace University

In a role like mine, I have learned to always expect the unexpected. If the past two years have taught me anything, it’s that you can never be too prepared. Have a contingency plan for your contingency plan. There is no such thing as asking too many questions. Commu nication has always been vital to achieving successful results, and the pandemic necessitated even more frequent and transparent firm-wide communication.

Company Headquarters Location: Newark, New Jersey

Number of Employees: 282

What book are you reading: With a junior and senior in high school, I am reading every parent guide to college in print. The one in my bag currently is: You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me) by Marjorie Savage

Favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Interests: Traveling and spending time with my family

Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

Company Name: Gibbons P.C.

What was your first job: Delivering newspapers (The Asbury Park Press)

As a leader during the pandemic, I’ve learned that listening to each individual’s concerns is crucial. The pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime event impacting our employees in many ways, and they are in a constant state of unease for their own safety and the safety of their families. While employee well-being is always at the top of my mind, I realized that, as their concerns evolved, so would our client-service delivery.

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Company CEO: Peter J. Torcicollo, Managing Director

Words you live by: Always keep an open mind and an open heart.

Personal Philosophy: You never stop learning, and you can learn from anyone in any situation.

Family: Married for more than 30 years to Ross (teacher), with 2 children, John (17) and Ross (16)

June M. Inderwies

I have also been privileged to handle some of the most important issues facing our firm. In February 2022, while still operating under our COVID protocols, Gibbons underwent a change in leadership for the first time in nearly two decades. I served as a member of the Transition Committee, which was tasked with vetting candidates for the managing director position. I now work closely with both the new managing director and executive chairman to ensure the firm’s continued operational growth and success.

In a Pandemic, You Can Never Be Too Prepared

Industry: Law

Dare to Be Bold—and to Improvise

It is the pressure of performance that drives me forward rather than holds me back.” “

Personal Philosophy: Take every call.

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Words you live by: Lead by example.

What book are you reading: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Interests: Literature, art, nature, and exploring different cultures

Associate

lawyer, this lesson has stayed with me, inspiring me on a day-to-day basis. It is the pressure of performance that drives me forward rather than holds me back. I relish the high-stakes cases that my firm handles. I thrive when thinking on my feet during an oral argument or trial and navigating difficult legal problems. My comfort with discomfort has also shaped the decisions I make throughout my career, pushing me to be bold and to constantly seek out new challenges. And daring to improvise along the way.

Number of Employees: 30

As I’ve gone from aspiring musician to practicing

From early childhood through high school, I was an aspiring classical musician. During college, I discov ered new passions in academics and public service. While law became my career focus, my experience as a musician helped me cultivate lasting skills that have molded me into the advocate I am today, including how to connect with different audiences, how to work tirelessly toward key goals, and how to distill complex ideas into a simple but powerful message in any given piece—these days, a brief or oral argument.

Skye Tian Gao

Education: JD, Harvard Law School; BA, Barnard College

Learning to perform under pressure didn’t happen overnight. Through trial and error, lots of practice, and plain old grit, I gradually learned how to thrive in highintensity situations—by harnessing and transforming my performance adrenaline into an asset; by understanding that failure is a necessary part of learning and improv ing; and by embracing rather than avoiding situations that can cause performance anxiety or discomfort.

overtook them: focus, clarity, and passion.

Favorite charity: The Legal Aid Society

Company Name: Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes LLP

One of the most helpful lessons I learned as a musician was how to perform under pressure. I can still feel my clammy hands, as stiff as piano strings, in the minutes before I took the stage. I can still hear my heart pounding so intensely it could have been mistaken for the low thud of a timpani drum. I can still see the glare of bright stage lights, like the sun on a scorching summer afternoon, beaming on me as I walked onto the stage. But I also remember these sensations fading into the background as others

Company CEO: n/a

What was your first job: Music gigs

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Industry: Law

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Personal Philosophy: You’re not here just for yourself; you’re here to serve and develop others.

Interests: Is dark chocolate an interest? I also interested in different cultures and cuisine, and classical music.

Company CEO: Sundar Pichai

While still learning to speak well, I moved to leading projects, where I encountered more and more issues that I was unable to resolve myself. Most significant problems are too big for a single person to resolve in a reasonable time frame. So a project leader serves the project team by building consensus

Your Location (if different from above): Chicago, Illinois

Education: BS EE, University of Illinois–Urbana; JD, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Company Name: Google

Industry: Technology

Favorite charity: Christian Legal Society

Yes, great leaders write well and speak well. But I wasn’t born that way. After learning to think well—in my case, think like an engineer and then, think like a lawyer—I had to learn to effectively communicate those thoughts. Learning to write well meant drafting for clarity, editing for succinctness, and anticipating viewpoints of both known and not-well-known read ers. Writing isn’t the only mode of communication, so speak well incorporates interacting with live audiences. As a person who doesn’t enjoy public speaking, I had to practice layering on skills of oral expression, active listening, and spontaneous response to larger and larger audiences. (And a little humor doesn’t hurt either!)

What was your first job: Watch repair at Carson Pirie Scott department store

Adding to leading projects, leading people requires concern for careers and building long-term trust. Great leaders find complementary teammates and help them work together, express their own unique viewpoints and talents, and stretch to gain new experiences and skills. And although you might expect having a formal management position to lead people is easier than only having influence, management has its own realm of struggles.

Words you live by: “In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.” –Proverbs 6:19 (NIRV)

Sylvia Chen Senior Patent Counsel

Underlying each of these artifacts is a growing sense of ownership and responsibility. Projects rarely restrict themselves to a single department, boundaries can be fuzzy or unstable, and big problems sometimes extend to entire industries. So great leaders see beyond their formal scope and collaborate to pull together teams that help not only themselves but others. And the best leaders do all this while developing additional great leaders!

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What book are you reading: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

The Artifacts of Leadership Spoke to Me

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starting from agreeing upon an articulation of the problem through collecting diverse ideas and then refining a coherent solution. After creating a multi-team execution plan for the solution, having only influence (and not formal power) hones those communication skills of write well and speak well. Leading projects also leverages personal relationships to motivate others to invest time, effort, and resources toward a common goal—often navigating changing situations.

We constantly ask ourselves, “How can I be a bet ter leader?” My chief legal officer once responded, “The best leaders write well, speak well, lead projects, lead people, and feel responsible for more than their scope.” That list of leadership artifacts spoke to me from the first moment I heard them, and I respect them today more than ever.

Company Headquarters Location: Mountain View, California

Number of Employees: 150,000

Family: Husband and three near-adult children

What book are you reading: If I Could Tell You Just One Thing . . . : Encounters with Remarkable People and Their Most Valuable Advice by Richard Reed

Company Headquarters Location: n/a Number of Employees: 4,406

Education: ): J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law; B.S., Oklaho Christian University

Words you live by: Be authentic.

Your Location (if different from above): Houston, Texas

diverse individuals.

and personal life, which allows me more opportunities to move the needle in that particular space.

Industry: Law

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Company CEO: Brian Duffy

Writer Joel Barker once said, “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

Listen to Your Thoughts and Your Heart

I share this quote as a form of encouragement and as a reminder that we need to be intentional with our actions. It is up to us to be the change we want to see in the world, and up to every individual to figure out what they want that change to be. This mindset has allowed me to find my passion—a passion for creating

Company Name: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Managing Shareholder, Houston; Global CoChair of Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice

Personal Philosophy: “Be curious, keep in touch, and show up.” “Everyone wants to feel important.”

a meaningful change for the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

As a diverse individual who has worked hard to earn a seat at the table, I believe it is my responsibility—and honor—to use my position to positively impact the lives of others. As an advocate, I encourage and take part in educating others. I also ask the hard questions and help make DEI part of the conversation. Additionally, I am able to exercise my passion for DEI in my professional

An individual’s passions are important to his or her authenticity, character, and motivation. That said, I challenge all of you to find your passion. Take time to listen to your thoughts and your heart. Be confident in who you are and in what you bring to the table. In turn, you will be the change you want to see and positively impact your communities, organizations, and maybe even the individuals around you.

Writer Joel Barker once said, “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

I am grateful to be with Greenberg Traurig, a firm at the forefront of change in the legal profession, especially with regard to diversity. With current events bringing systemic racism and inequity to the forefront of social consciousness, our firm recognizes this shift as an opportunity to accelerate its efforts to actualize meaningful change, while providing opportunities to

Interests: Anything my boys are doing. running, basketball, reading, cooking, and traveling

Family: Always first!

Shari L. Heyen

The best advice I can give to other women attor neys is advice I received early in my own career: Ask

Company CEO: Brian Duffy

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Company Headquarters Location: n/a Number of Employees: 4,406

chose not to have families. There were talented women who elected to forego the partnership track to raise their children. There were women who, together with their partners, decided the best way to balance their various responsibilities was for one partner to be the primary caregiver for their children and step back from their career entirely. Many of those women were, and still are, my mentors, and I applaud them for making the decisions that worked for them. However, I didn’t see their paths as the right ones for me and my family.

Favorite charity: Food Allergy Research & Education

... I work arduously to be a visible and approachable role model for other women and to support them in whatever they want to achieve—no matter what it looks like for them.”

Family: Husband and two children (ages 5 and 7), with a new baby on the way

Today, as a successful corporate lawyer with clients who trust me with their most complex transactions, the managing shareholder of the Delaware office of the same firm where I started my career, and an involved mother of two (soon to be three!), I work arduously to be a visible and approachable role model for other women and to support them in whatever they want to achieve—no matter what it looks like for them.

Personal Philosophy: If I don’t speak, I can’t be heard

As a young Delaware corporate lawyer, I always had a vision of what I wanted to achieve: excellence in my practice, a leadership role at a global law firm, and a family. That may sound easy enough, but when I looked around me within my profession, it was difficult to find other women who achieved these things in quite the same way that I hoped that I would. There were incredibly successful female attorneys who

Your Location (if different from above): Delaware

What book are you reading: This Is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Managing Shareholder, Delaware

Interests: Traveling, cycling, and entertaining family and friends

for what you want. Six years ago, I took this advice to heart and asked for a management role in my office. I was young—I had only been a shareholder for two years—and there had never been a female managing shareholder in my office before. I expected the answer to be no, but my firm supported me. So today, I repeat the advice that worked for me. Ask for the new position, ask for the complex work, ask for the support you need from your loved ones, superiors, and colleagues. You will likely be pleasantly surprised by the answer.

Words you live by: “Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” Michelle Obama

Company Name: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Work Hard and Ask for What You Want

“

Education: BA, Syracuse University; JD, Temple University, Beasley School of Law

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What was your first job: Clothing Store, age 16

Marian Wright Edelman famously stated: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”

Diane Ibrahim

Industry: Law

Company Name: Herrick, Feinstein LLP

Company CEO: Barbaros Karaahmet, Chief Operating Partner

As a young associate, I founded the Diverse Working Attorneys Group, to foster mentorship between diverse attorneys, created a Diversity Matters newsletter, and launched a Women’s Initiative program, which focused on enhancing business development and networking skills for women.

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I’m Doing Everything I Can to Increase D&I in Law

I have also been very active in the South Asian legal community. I am currently co-chairing the South Asian Bar Association of New York’s Litigation Committee.

Words you live by: Your time is your most valuable possession.

What was your first job: Litigation associate at a law firm (first job as a lawyer)

Interests: Fusion cooking, tennis, traveling, and hosting dinners

What book are you reading: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

Shivani Poddar Partner

Number of Employees: approximately 125 attorneys

Favorite charity: ACLU

I also currently co-chair Herrick’s Diversity Committee.

As co-chair, I launched the Leadership Lunch series, allowing young South Asian associates to have access to successful South Asian leaders.

Personal Philosophy: If a program or organization doesn’t exist, create it.

Industry: Law

Recently, I founded a networking group called Ladies in Law New York, established to bring togeth er accomplished and diverse female lawyers to create organic relationships, find mentors, seek career advice, facilitate new business opportunities, and much more.

Education: JD, American University, Washington College of Law; BA, Boston University

I’d like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for this award. This award is particularly close to my heart because I’m passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. As a first-generation South Asian lawyer, I also appreciate the need to mentor junior lawyers and amplify the contributions of diverse lawyers, and I strive to do that every day. In this regard, I’ve launched and par ticipated in numerous diversity-and-inclusion-related initiatives, hoping that I can contribute to moving our profession forward.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

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In the last three years, I have launched the Women’s Initiative Network at my current law firm, Herrick Feinstein LLP (“Herrick”), to organize programming on networking and business development; launched a Diversity Partners program, whereby diverse partners mentor and sponsor diverse associates; and created a

Although my work is merely a drop in the bucket, I do hope it inspires others to take active roles in their organizations to increase diversity and inclusion at all levels.

mentoring circles program. I have been active in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (“LCLD”), an organization of more than 320 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners, who are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive legal profession, as an LCLD Fellow and the New York City Lead for 2021.

Well into the pandemic, I was convinced that certain parts of my job as a litigator were universally better done in person. But each time I thought, “This could not be done, or done as well, remotely,” I failed to account for unforeseen advantages.

Industry: Law

Company CEO: n/a

Alison Miller Associate

Education: AB, Dartmouth College; JD, Georgetown University Law Center

This new way of working will also enrich our per sonal lives. I grew up appreciating these possibilities. My grandmother Ruth became a pediatrician at a time when very few women practiced medicine, in part be cause medical schools imposed quotas on the number of women per class. Once she entered the field, she ran her practice from home—with her office right off the living room and her sons’ elementary school right across the street. With this unique setup, her most important appointment each day for a time was not a patient checkup, but lunchtime with her sons.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

We have in this moment a great, global opportunity to reshape what it means to go to work every day. This is not just an opportunity to afford employees more flexibility in some abstract sense or to save money on office space. It is a far greater opportunity for each of us to achieve more success and fulfillment, both professionally and personally.

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The Pandemic Also Unlocked Exciting Possibilities

Company Name: Holwell, Shuster & Goldberg LLP

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In one highly expedited litigation, we were able to take a dozen depositions in a matter of days in large part because we did not have to travel around the country to attend them. We benefitted from more time preparing and collaborating with one another than might have otherwise been the case. In another matter, instead of negotiating with opposing counsel by phone as is typical, we spoke face-to-face on Zoom and built greater rapport in the process that translated into improved outcomes for our client. Put simply: remote tools unlock new possibilities.

My hope is that we normalize and institutionalize the use of remote professional tools and workplace flexibility—in its myriad forms—in the years to come, continuing to identify new opportunities that may have seemed exceptional or revolutionary a generation or two ago.

What book are you reading: Leadership by Doris Kearns Goodwin

A generation later, my father, also a lawyer, spent much of his career working from home three days a week. This arrangement enabled my mother to continue pursuing her career, and my father to watch my field hockey team consistently lose our afternoon matches, one of our only fans.

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Meaghan Gragg Partner

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Company CEO: Theodore V.H. Mayer, Chair

Number of Employees: 226 attorneys

Family: I live with my wife in Brooklyn; we are close with our extended family, who live in Miami, Los Angeles, Stockholm, and Berlin.

Education: JD cum laude, University of Florida College of Law (Research Editor, Florida Law Review); BA with high honors, Dartmouth College

Committee. Meaghan has extensive experience in handling high-stakes, complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis in international arbitration and cross-border litigation, financial institution litigation, and insolvency-related litigation.

Society of New York and Performance Space New York. Before joining Hughes Hubbard, Meaghan clerked for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.

Meaghan Gragg is a partner in Hughes Hubbard & Reed’s Litigation Department and International & Domestic Arbitration, Corporate Reorganization & Bankruptcy, and Art Law groups. She is an elected member of Hughes Hubbard’s Executive Committee and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Personal Philosophy: Be mindful and intentional. Seek out opportunities to learn, contribute, and make a difference. Help others. Take initiative, set goals, and push yourself to achieve them.

She is an elected member of Hughes Hubbard’s Executive Committee and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. ” “

Company Name: Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

What was your first job: Sailing instructor

Words you live by: Work hard, read voraciously, eat well, and exercise. Be curious, generous, honest and optimistic. Go to parties.

Meaghan’s Adventures in the Legal Profession

Interests: Exploring New York City, reading, traveling, sailing, and skiing

She also has experience conducting internal in vestigations. As a member of Hughes Hubbard’s Art Law group, she advises artists, art advisors, auction houses, collectors, estates, galleries, museums, and nonprofits in a variety of matters.

Industry: Law

Favorite charity: Legal Aid Society of New York and Performance Space New York

Meaghan serves on the boards of the Legal Aid

What book are you reading: Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong

Number of Employees: More than 1,800

Shemin V. Proctor Partner

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Since that time, I have had several mentors, both in my practice area and outside my practice area, within the firm and outside of my firm. As important, and at times more important, I have had sponsors who were willing to invest in me, support me, and defend me. I would never have become the lawyer I am without them. So, seek advice and counsel, seek out areas that are unfamiliar, and be open to advice and mentoring from many different people.

Words you live by: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” –Luke 12:48 (paraphrased)

Company Name: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Industry: Law

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Favorite charity: See Forever Foundation

I also received advice as a young lawyer that dramatically impacted my career. I was fortunate to be mentored by a partner in a law firm who took an interest in my career. I was at a crossroads, my father had recently died and I felt that I should go back home and work in Washington, DC, but I had previously decided to work in Houston. My mentor suggested that I consider working for the law firm, but in the Washington, DC office, rather than in Houston. I had not considered the Washington, DC office because it was small, and in fact had worked at a different law firm in Washington, DC during the summer.

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

Seek Out Good Advice—it’s Priceless

Shortly thereafter, I met the energy regulatory and managing partner, and other partners in that practice area; asked one of them to be my mentor (she said yes); and the rest is history. I have been practicing in the energy regulatory area my entire career.

Company Headquarters Location: Richmond, Virginia

When I was in high school, I worked at IBM during the summer. My mom encouraged me to meet lawyers in the legal department because I wanted to be a lawyer. So, one day, I wandered down the hall to the legal department and I met an attorney. We talked about college, law school, and becoming a lawyer. I will always remember his advice: take the path of least resistance: go to the best school that you can, get the best grades you can; and give yourself the best opportunity to excel. So there it was, some of the best career advice I have ever received.

What was your first job: Self-employment, selling donuts

Family: Wolfgang, my Shepsky

Personal Philosophy: Do my best; work hard and play hard!

My mentor introduced me via conference call to the managing partner in the DC office, who also headed the energy regulatory practice. In addition to that introduction, he told me that the energy regu latory practice was difficult, that it was interdisciplinary, would be challenging, and was very profitable. Equally important, my mentor told me that it would be a good practice area for me because I needed a challenge.

Company CEO: Managing Partner, Walfrido Martinez

Number of Employees: 5,400

Favorite charity: Christ the King Church (RI) and Friends of the Teton River

During my university studies I came to appreciate that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we will face in my lifetime. I also wanted to help preserve the beauty of the natural world, while benefiting humankind by providing us with abundant, clean energy. I con cluded that nuclear power would become increasingly important to addressing energy needs in the face of this threat. And that’s how I decided to study it.

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What was your first job: Barn hand

My love for the outdoors helped put me on course for a career that would benefit the environment.”

Along the way, my choice has been affirmed, as I’ve seen more of the world and the devastating impacts of

I grew up with a deep love for the natural world, and I’ve always spent as much time as possible outdoors. I also have a special appreciation for clean air as someone who has asthma. While I’m fortunate that it’s well-controlled with modern medicine, it’s something that I manage on a daily basis, and it has naturally impacted the course of my life, the values I hold, and the career path I eventually chose.

Company Name: Idaho National Laboratory Industry: Energy

Company Headquarters Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

My love for the outdoors helped put me on course for a career that would benefit the environment. Anoth er important factor came in the form of a fantastic high school physics teacher, who made me think harder and smarter than any other teacher had.

Company CEO: Dr. John Wagner (Laboratory Director)

Family: Husband, 5- and 7-year-old sons, and dog

Personal Philosophy: Listen with an open mind and speak the truth, do what is right, strive for excellence, and care for others.

Education: PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How Clean Air, and Clean Energy, Became My Mission

Another key to my career path was growing up within 10-15 miles of two nuclear power plants. Even

Words you live by: Be gentle with others; you don’t know what they are going through.

What book are you reading: A Higher Standard by Ann Dunwoody

Interests: Outdoor sports, time in nature, geopolitics, technology, and energy

“

at a young age, I had a positive view of what they were doing for the environment by providing clean energy.

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With an interest in science that this remarkable teacher helped me develop, I went to college to study physics. There, my love of nature and my desire to benefit the world through technology came together.

energy poverty. My commitment has intensified over the years, as I’ve learned more and witnessed firsthand the impact of energy geopolitics broadly, and nuclearenergy geopolitics in particular.

Ashley E. Finan Director, National InnovationReactorCenter

Finally, my heart is now fully enlisted each time my son Clark sees smoke and asks mommy to work on getting that smoke out of the air. I am grateful to teachers and other mentors who helped me recognize my interests and pursue what I love, and I am now doing my best to provide that same encouraging leadership to those I work with every day.

INL Measured Me by My Performance—Not My Gender

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ourInsteaddirectorate.ofdisplaying any push-back or reluctance to follow my direction, these employees embraced the plan and supported me as we moved forward. This experience—and many others—convinced me that my managers at INL measured my performance by what I accomplished regardless of my gender. In fact, of the 500+ employees within my directorate, my manage ment nominated me for a prestigious national award with the Department of Energy.

Education: MBA, Idaho State University; BA, Brigham Young University-Idaho Company Name: Idaho National Laboratory Industry: Energy

My concern regarding the male-dominated career field was quelled quickly. INL embraces meritocracy and performance as part of its guiding values. This foundation allowed me to succeed and demonstrate my drive for excellence. With the support of many individuals, I was able to learn the full scope of the organization and help drive long-term improvement. It was not uncommon for me to be the only female, leading a group of 10 to15 males as we all focused on addressing a performance assurance issue within

Personal Philosophy: Everything happens for a reason.

What book are you reading: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor; Rise of the Giants by Christine Marshall; Trust and Inspire by Stephen M. R. Covey Favorite charity: Paces for Payton

Krista Harris Manager

When I was given the opportunity to join the Safeguards and Security Directorate at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), I was hesitant. I had been working in a promising and diverse career field, where the potential for personal growth was significant. I would be moving into a historically male-dominated career field, and if I made the move, returning to my former role would be extremely difficult due to the fast pace of the industry I was leaving. While the final decision was based on many factors, I saw an opportunity to join a career field where I could have a bigger impact—a place where my skill sets and passion would allow a greater sense of accomplishment.

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My experience at INL has helped me strive to find ways to help others break through perceived and real barriers in their career fields. I have worked hard to support diversity in our work environment and en couraged others not to fear navigating the challenges of entering a male-dominated career field. Many of these discussions have been informal dialogue with the younger female employees who seek to maximize their professional potential. My directorate has worked hard to increase diversity, and currently fifty percent of my staff is female. While this effort is not complete, I am proud to be able to support the growth and achieve ment of others in the workplace.

Company CEO: Dr. John Wagner (Laboratory Director) Company Headquarters Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Number of Employees: 5,400 Words you live by: Take Notes.

Materials and Fuels Complex Business Division Director

Help others while you’re on your journey. It’s rewarding.

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Favorite charity: Paces for Payton

Tiffany Leavitt

Company Name: Idaho National Laboratory Industry: Energy

Number of Employees: 5,400

Company Headquarters Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

What book are you reading: The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus by Eric Harvey

Company CEO: Dr. John Wagner (Laboratory Director)

The Inestimable Value of Consistent, Effective Support

I started my career at Idaho National Laboratory as a technical writer and have held various other posi tions since then, leading to my current position as the business division director at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex. Some might assume that since I started my career in a support organization that I got stuck on that path. I disagree. I have always been enthusiastic about this type of work. Consistent, effective support is absolutely essential to keeping a premier research institution running smoothly and allowing our worldclass researchers to continue innovating.

I have always enjoyed helping people and love working as part of a team, and I’m fortunate to have two great parents who I’ve always looked up to as role models. My mom worked in banking and embraced the opportunity to help people from all walks of life. In retirement, she’s the mom/sister/grandmother/ friend who drives everyone to appointments or takes them to sporting events just for something to do. She currently volunteers at our local library. My dad, an INL retiree, has never, not for one day in his adult life, been without a volunteer job. His volunteerism has taken different forms: coach/referee/director of our youth soccer league, United Way chairman, legal aid helper, and a whole host of other things. He currently

serves as mayor of our small town.

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I’ve always understood that I need to excel at my day job so that I can serve in roles outside the one I’m paid for. I have been able to serve in many through out my 20+ years at the laboratory; some were mainly networking opportunities, but others have been highly rewarding in the support area—the essential area.

I currently serve as co-president of our LGBTQ employee leadership council, which we call Prism. I want everyone to feel welcome at INL, with a real sense of belonging. I can be my true self at work, and I want that for everyone. I want to help build a team that demonstrates our humanity, and I get to do that by working with the Prism group.

Interests: Reading, baseball, RZR riding, Harry Potter, and Star Wars

Personal Philosophy: Don’t turn down the opportunity; say yes, even if it’s outside your comfort zone.

Words you live by: Just do the work.

Education: BS, English and history, Idaho State University

I aspire to be like them. I followed my dad into a career at INL but took my own path. I can’t follow my mom because she’s better at everything than I am. But I am continually inspired by them, and that has helped me lead a rewarding work life. I have volunteered outside work in many capacities, but it’s my volunteer work at INL that lets me get the most out of my affinity for helping people and using my skills as a team member and leader.

What was your first job: Courtesy Clerk at Safeway, age 16

Family: Husband, and two adult boys and their families

Company CEO: Dr. John Wagner (Laboratory Director)

Director, Acquisition & Contracts Management

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For many employers, working from home was not a

What book are you reading: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Interests: Skiing, biking, hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends

Michelle Wiest

Company Name: Idaho National Laboratory

Education: BS, finance & MS, environmental studies, University of Idaho

Family: Husband and two sons

choice, but rather a necessary step to slow the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to work. As with any change, there were growing pains, but they quickly subsided and a newfound flexibility in not only where we work, but when we work was discovered. For the majority of workers, productivity remained strong, and many workers achieved a better work-life balance ab sent the need for daily commuting. With the majority of businesses now “reopened,” I see a strong preference for splitting time between working from home and in the office, as well as working asynchronous schedules. While remote work is not suitable for all jobs, for those for whom it is suitable, I foresee this flexibility being a significant driver in attracting and retaining talent. Sharing the decision-making between employer and employee on the most suitable work location is likely here to stay.

Number of Employees: 5,400

Company Headquarters Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

What was your first job: Compensation Analyst for Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier - Idaho

The pandemic also gave us the gift of leading with more empathy and building a culture that is more attuned to the needs of employees. With empathy, we create higher engagement and retention. Knowing someone we work with really cares about us and our success will strengthen our connections as we move forward in a post-pandemic world, where the competi tion for talent is fierce. We must all adapt to the changing post-pandemic conditions in order to excel in our respective industries.

March 2020 was a defining moment in the profes sional work environment that I had grown and thrived in for more than two decades. Like many employers across the United States, we made a thoughtful and deliberate decision to transition to telework status. I recall packing up my laptop and a few essentials that would suffice for the few weeks I thought I would be away from my office. The future was unknown, but I was confident that we had the essential technology and capability to connect remotely to the systems that were necessary for our dailyWeeksoperations.actually

Personal Philosophy: You can’t know everything, so surround yourself with people who think differently from you.

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turned into two years of teleworking and my paradigm that we needed close physical prox imity to connect, create togetherness, and sustain our culture was shattered. The pandemic demanded that we be more deliberate in engaging with each other, since the chance meeting in hallways or at the water cooler was gone overnight. The primary means of connection quickly became virtual meeting platforms. What started out as virtual calls and meetings quickly advanced into virtual training sessions, interviews, town halls . . . the list goes on. While we may have used these tools for virtual engagement prior to the pandemic, they are now woven into the daily fabric of our lives. These virtual platforms create a level of flexibility that is here to stay, in both our personal and professional lives.

How, and Where, We Work Has Been Forever Changed

Industry: Energy

Words you live by: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the things you think you cannot do.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite charity: Special Olympics

Industry: Law

Words you live by: Plan for the unexpected, but plan to be flexible.

Mentors, because No One Can Do it Alone

Favorite charity: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Family: My fiancé, pet-mom, and my niece

Number of Employees: 238

taking on more challenging and high-profile matters, to share my insights and analysis during case strategy meetings, and to seek out high-level leadership roles on the cases I am working on. They have also been invaluable sounding boards. And, more important, they have fiercely advocated for me in rooms I am not evenThein.women attorneys I have met throughout my career have taught me the importance of having men tors from all walks of life, including men. Admittedly,

Education: JD cum laude, University of Michigan Law School; BS, Cornell University

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Personal Philosophy: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Interests: Hiking, reading, swimming, and my pets

While I am extremely proud of my accomplishment, it is not lost on me that I am fortunate to work at a law firm that values women, routinely promotes women to partnership, and one that seeks out women for leadership roles. I know a number of talented women lawyers who are not as fortunate as I am.

In the (almost) decade since I graduated from law school, women attorneys still continue to be underrep resented at the partner level at law firms, in general counsel C-suite roles at companies, and in high-level roles at government agencies, as well as at other entities. And, as women, we unfortunately still have to prove ourselves in certain spaces, even if we are lead attorney on a case and the person who has the most knowledge about the legal issues in the case.

Company CEO: Marc E. Kasowitz, managing partner

I was recently promoted to partner at my law firm.

What was your first job: Barista at a bookstore

Company Name: Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

some conversations have been easier to have with other women, given that we have had to deal with some of the same issues, but my male mentors and sponsors have also been some of my biggest champions and have supported me immensely throughout my legal career, including on my path to partnership.

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You cannot achieve anything in life without hard work and determination, but no one can do it alone. ”

What book are you reading: What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

“

The key, in part, to my success is that I have sponsors and mentors—both women and men—who are firmly invested in my professional and personal growth. They want to see me win. They have taken me under their respective wings, encouraging me to stretch myself by

Melissa A. Barahona Partner

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

You cannot achieve anything in life without hard work and determination, but no one can do it alone. Having mentors and sponsors in your corner who are invested in your growth and will fiercely advocate for you, will make your pathway to success a bit smoother.

On numerous occasions, I have walked into a court room where the majority of the people were Caucasian men who are older than I am. And, because I’m a petite Asian American woman, they did not take me serious ly—at first. Some have mistaken me for a paralegal or a secretary rather than an attorney who is lead counsel for clients, implicitly implying that women are only suited for certain roles.

Favorite charity: Rainbow Rescue Ranch

... until the playing field is leveled for us, we have to continue to be our own best advocates. ”

Heather S. Kim Partner

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

“

I’m fortunate to work at a law firm that celebrates diversity (I am part of one of the country’s most diverse

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Education: JD, Santa Clara University School of Law; BA, University of California Riverside

Company CEO: Marc E. Kasowitz, managing partner

Patent litigation still remains largely dominated by Caucasian men. I am often the only woman or person of color in the room. On one occasion, a judge whom I appeared before, uncharacteristically commented on the lack of diverse attorneys before the court on one particular day because of the half dozen attorneys there for a certain defendant, all of them were Caucasian men.

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Words you live by: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” –Wayne Gretzky

What book are you reading: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Number of Employees: 238

Your Location (if different from above): Silicon Valley

Instead of allowing these experiences to discourage

Personal Philosophy: Practice kindness to all creatures great and small; treasure this planet.

Family: Husband (JohnHenry) and two standard poodle girls (Phoebe & Joey) (yes, we’re Friends fans)

Interests: Fitness and gardening

me, I use them as fuel. Since they don’t expect someone like me to be smart and highly capable, and have an opinion and a voice, when I zealously advocate for my clients, whether at the negotiation table or in the court room, they are often surprised by my legal acumen, which has been very beneficial to my clients.

We, as women, bring a unique perspective and a fresh approach to the table, and this diversity in thought and opinion is vital to coming up with solutions to re solve our clients’ complex issues. And, until the playing field is leveled for us, we have to continue to be our own best advocates.

We Have to Be Our Own Best Advocates

Today, women continue to face gender bias in the workplace. And, when you are a woman of color like me—I’m Asian American—you also have to deal with racial biases. These biases can profoundly impact whether women are hired or promoted, staffed on career-defining cases or projects, or sought after for influential leadership roles.

Company Name: Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Industry: Law

Intellectual Property trial teams) and with mentors who have provided me with numerous opportunities to showcase my legal skills, promoted me to partnership, and have supported me throughout my legal career, which has allowed me to flourish.

What was your first job: Server at the Cheesecake Factory

Personal Philosophy: “If the wind won’t serve, take to the oars.” –Latin Proverb

What book are you reading: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Interests: My family

After graduating from Harvard Law School, I began my career as a law clerk on the D.C. Circuit before joining the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to gain litigation experience. I then served as senior counsel to Senator John Cornyn and eventually, joined the White House Domestic Policy Council as special assistant to the President for legal policy and regulatory reform. In that role, I managed the devel opment of national policy through Policy Coordination Committees by synthesizing the recommendations of a range of federal agencies, including the Departments of State, Labor, and Justice. I later served as an advisor

Your Location (if different from above): Austin, Texas

What was your first job: Server at a restaurant

Favorite charity: Wounded Warrior Project

to the White House Counsel before returning to my homeOncestate.back in Texas, the Texas Attorney General appointed me to be his senior counsel. In that role, I managed legal policy and strategy for one of the largest state attorney general offices in the country. I advised the Texas Attorney General on affirmative litigation and participated in matters spanning consti tutional law, consumer protection, and antitrust. I also served as the liaison between our office, the office of the U.S. Attorney General, and the offices of other state attorneys general.

While working with states, I witnessed the sobering effect that COVID had on their resources and their ability to bring resource-intensive, highstakes litigation. That motivated me to join a plaintiff-side law firm, Keller Postman, to find a way to serve public entities from the private side. To that end, I spearheaded the launch of the Keller Postman’s Public Institutions practice. Since then, we have repre sented several states and municipalities in significant national litigation, standing up against the largest corporations in the world, to curb unlawful conduct directed at the residents of those states. It has been an honor to find a way to continue working in the public interest by partnering with public institutions in this vital capacity.

Industry: Law

Company Headquarters Location: Chicago, Illinois

Family: Husband and three children

Education: JD, Harvard Law School; MBA, Wharton Business School; BS, Harvard College

Company CEO: Adam Gerchen

Words you live by: Add value.

Company Name: Keller Postman LLC

I attended Harvard College, and, after my first year, traveled back to the Valley to shadow a federal judge in his courtroom. Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, was the first Latino to ever be appointed to this position. After spending a summer with him and his team in chambers, I was inspired by his hard work, fairness, and commitment to community service. The experience was pivotal in my life and further fueled my drive to attend law school and serve the public interest.

I was born in Mexico and grew up in a Texas bor der town in the Rio Grande Valley. The area is majority Latino and, at the time, was largely underserved and underprivileged. My childhood in the Valley inspired my desire to protect and advance access to justice.

Inspired to Serve the Public Interest

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Number of Employees: 125

Zina Bash Partner

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I am one of three children—two brothers and me. We were all raised in the same way by Dutch parents who expected us to work hard at school, attend university, and build careers. My brothers and I were always considered equals—in intellect, skill, and opportunity—and we were all told the same thing (many, many times!): hard work is the key ingredient to success. It all made so much sense.

off and told myself that I just needed to work harder. (I made him pay for dinner however.)

But here’s the funny thing. When you believe in something so strongly, it’s almost as though you have blinders on and you don’t see the things going on around you. Here’s what I mean. Shortly after starting my first job, I met my now husband, who worked at the same company. On our first date, I learned that he had been hired at a higher starting salary than I, for the identical position. At the time, I quietly laughed it

Make Sure People Know that You Do Great Work

What book are you reading: What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad

What was your first job: Delivering newspapers

Now, when I am asked if I still believe in the value of hard work, I respond enthusiastically and specifically: Work hard AND smart. Do great work and then make sure that people with influence know that you do great work. They won’t know if you don’t tell them.

At that moment the blinders flew off and I awak ened to the gender inequities in our workplaces and societies. Since that time I have made it my mission, through my work at Catalyst and now at Korn Ferry, to find every opportunity to advance progress for women, so that my daughter and daughters every where can live and thrive in a truly equitable world.

Industry: Consulting

Family: Husband, Andrew; son, Jack; daughter, Meredith; and dog, Angus

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Company CEO: Gary Bumison

Tanya van Biesen

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Favorite charity: Catalyst

Interests: Women’s equality, early morning exercise, reading, travel, family, and friends

Fast forward 18 years and I am up for partnership in a global consultancy alongside a male colleague. He and I were of similar tenure and had been peer contributors in all respects. Yet in the middle of the process my path to partnership was challenged because there was a concern that I, a mother of two kids, might not be able to keep up the pace of travel expected of a partner. Odd, because my colleague, a father of three kids, was not challenged at all.

Your Location (if different from above): Toronto, Ontario, Canada

At university I graduated at the top of my class. I entered the work world and was soon on my way, keeping pace with my peers, benefiting from what seemed to be an environment built on meritocracy. What I believed seemed so true: work hard and opportunities will abound!

Company Headquarters Location: Los Angeles, California

Words you live by: Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

I would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for this important recognition.

Personal Philosophy: Do the hard things early and quickly.

Company Name: Korn Ferry

Number of Employees: Approximately 8,000

Managing Partner, Board & CEO Succession Canada Education: B.Comm, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University; MBA, Rotman School of Management

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Growing up in Troy, New York, as a Sikh and the daughter of Indian immigrants from Burma, I learned the rigors of hard work and the outcomes based on effort.

Personal Philosophy: Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Favorite charity: Pingalawara

Second, my athletic endeavors, in particular my love for soccer, tennis, and swimming, taught me passion and perseverance. Sports that tested me mentally and physically, and a father who told me to “always play with someone better than you,” helped me grow. The same held true for academics, which during my early school years challenged me immense ly, and frankly, worried my parents and teachers greatly. Yet with perseverance, I understood the benefits of academia, earning not one, but three college degrees in the areas of technology, psychology, and business.

Lastly, manual labor as simple as mowing the lawn or laying a slate walkway taught me the value of hard work and a sense of satisfaction, as well as how my efforts affected others, both short and long term.

Collectively, these experiences helped me develop grit, passion, and purpose. As Angela Duckworth says, “At its core, the idea of purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than our selves.” My childhood experiences led me to a career in technology, an ever-changing and globally applied industry. One that would allow me to fulfill my dream of making a difference in this world and the communities I serve.

Shaping the World for Others

Company Name: Kroll

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Number of Employees: 6,000 worldwide

Words you live by: Life is not always what you plan. Life Happens, and it’s how you flex to it.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Industry: Risk, governance & growth

The roadmap for how I could achieve purpose in life began with strong family values taught by my parents and brother. Early on in my childhood, I participated in many charitable events, including fundraisers and community service at our Temple, where I learned the lesson of guiding one to a “better spot and giving back.”

What was your first job: Nursing home attendant

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Syracuse University iSchool; Master’s degree, organi zational psychology, Columbia University; Executive MBA, University of Connecticut

What book are you reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear

All the roles I have held to this point, including my current position, have afforded me the opportunity to shape the world for others—from my own three chil dren, who have shown me a thing or two, to the many colleagues I have had the pleasure of knowing. Making an impact on the evolution of a company or the people that come in and out of my life—watching them move on to bigger and better things—is a true continuation of my family legacy of leaving people and places in a “better spot” than before. This I am most proud of!

Company CEO: Jacob Silverman

Interests: Swimming, tennis, spas, and travel

Family: 3 Daughters, Geenu, Gurbani, and Saachi Dhall; and husband, Ricky Dhall

Sharon Kaur Dhall Chief Information Officer

With years of experience and expertise under my belt, which I am very proud to share with Kroll as their chief information officer, it’s important for me to note that I also feel an immense amount of pride and gratitude as a Sikh woman in the world of IT. It’s truly been a transformative experience for me and I have my family to thank for that.

Interests: Spending time with my family; socializing with friends; and going to the gym and reading

Personal Philosophy: There are no failures, just results to learn from.

Company Name: Kroll

In my role at Kroll, I always try to have the team’s best interest at heart; I know it is my responsibility to help them develop and grow professionally. You can usually recognize the potential stars early on, but sometimes it’s the ones that take longer to shine, who may struggle a bit in the beginning and take a bit longer to reach their full potential, that really stand out in the long term. It’s important to recognize that everyone within the team is different (which is one of the many things that makes the team so strong), but it’s also important to recognize their

Your Location (if different from above): Dublin, Ireland

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The best advice I was ever given was this: “Your strength is in your team.” I firmly believe in and try to live by that every day.

I think if I’m honest, I’ve always felt like an underdog —probably a bit of female imposter syndrome coming through—so I often find myself gravitating toward people who I can see are rolling up their sleeves, who are working really hard, but maybe it is not coming as naturally to them as their peers. To those who are may be struggling with how they are progressing in compar ison to their peers, I say this: be patient. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Take constructive feedback. If someone you know and trust believes in and backs you, make the most of the opportunity they are giving you. Ask a lot of questions, work hard, and your time will definitely come.

Since joining Kroll in 2014, a whole new world of challenges, opportunities, and learning experiences has opened up for me. However, I would not be able to do my job without the amazing people around me. Working with so many talented people across the globe has not only expanded my thinking. but has also challenged me to do great work.

Like everyone’s job, my role can sometimes be challenging, frustrating, and exhausting. But above all, it can be hugely rewarding. I feel a lot of responsibility to deliver for my team, my clients, and the company—I always push myself and want to be better. I recognize that I can’t do that alone and need to be working along side a talented and motivated team whose strengths complement my weaknesses. And I strongly believe that team is at Kroll, which is why I love my job and I am excited to keep learning.

Number of Employees: 6,000 worldwide

Anne O’Dwyer

various motivations in order to help them develop and grow. I get huge joy from seeing team members, who joined us straight from college, soaring to great heights within their careers.

EMEA Management Committee Chair and Managing Director, Restructuring

Keep Your Team’s Best Interest at Heart

Company CEO: Jacob Silverman

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What book are you reading: Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

What was your first job: Picking strawberries on a farm when I was a teenager, during the school holidays

Favorite charity: Basis Point Ireland

Industry: Risk, governance & growth

Family: Married to Dan, with a three-year-old son named Adam

Words you live by: “What is for you won’t pass you by.” –Old Irish Proverb (paraphrase)

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

For me, it’s so important to surround yourself with a team of people who complement your strengths and weaknesses. No one person is perfect, but when you bring a diverse team together with different personali ties, cultures, strengths, and experiences, you not only get to learn a great deal from each other, but also the client benefits from a multi-disciplined team.

Education: BA, accounting & finance, Dublin City University; Chartered Accountant FCA; Diplomas. IFRS; Restructuring & Insolvency and Forensic Accounting, Chartered Accountants Ireland

core values formed the basis of my leadership style that I have continued to refine throughout my career.

Early in my career, with the guidance of a senior colleague and mentor, I decided I would lead differently. I began with small things, such as not imposing unnec essary deadlines and setting unrealistic expectations.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

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I quickly realized that being transparent, genuine, and respectful, while holding myself and my colleagues accountable, began to cultivate strong relationships and build loyalty among my team members. These

Industry: Risk, governance & growth

Company CEO: Jacob Silverman

Company Name: Kroll

Personal Philosophy: Lead from a place of integrity and understanding.

Family: Married with a blended family of 3 children: Julia (13), Ryan (11), and Gianna (9)

As a young attorney and mother, working my way up the ranks in a predominantly male-dominated profes sion, I constantly felt like I was being pulled in too many directions, juggling work and children, among so many other things. Even though I was fully committed and excelling at work, I felt guilty for having to tend to personal obligations.

Managing Director, Head of Kroll’s Restructuring Administration and Issuer Services practices

Remote work during the pandemic, however, presented business leaders with many complex issues and no real precedent to help guide the way. Struggling with conflicting valid opinions for and against working remotely, we ultimately decided to institute a hybrid model once we could safely bring our employees back to the office. But what that meant, none of us really knew. I relied and continue to rely on my instincts and core leadership values to navigate through these un chartered waters. Before implementing a return to office plan, it was important to talk to colleagues and learn about their individual circumstances. However, there were so many perspectives and it became clear that there was no single solution that fit everyone’s needs. At the end of the day, schedule flexibility, workplace culture, and career growth were common themes in many of the discussions.

Lead from a Place of Integrity

What book are you reading: The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

Words you live by: Always choose happy.

Thank you to Profiles in Diversity Journal for honoring me with this award. I am truly grateful for this recognition, particularly during these tumultuous times, which con tinually present leaders with novel issues. Unexpectedly having to pivot our company to a fully remote working environment for over two years and now transitioning to a hybrid workplace has been one of the biggest challenges of my 20-year career. Prior to the pandemic, workplace expectations were certainly more rigid. People were generally expected to be in the office every day. Personal obligations were not always viewed as a priority and flexible schedules were perceived as an accommodation.

We tried to formulate a return-to-office plan that pri oritized those themes and fostered an inclusive work en vironment that would provide development and growth, motivate, and retain talented employees. While that plan is still in its early stages, I am confident that leading from a place of integrity and understanding throughout these tough times will help us reassess and refine this hybrid plan, as we learn more through experience.

What was your first job: Corporate Restructuring Attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Education: Juris Doctor, Fordham School of Law; Bachelor of Arts, Columbia College at Columbia University

Number of Employees: 6,000 worldwide

Favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

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Interests: Skiing, tennis, crafting, baseball, and all things Harry Potter

Christina Pullo

lead the new Impact Office and pull all these pieces together, I took a leap of faith in the organization and the organization took a leap of faith in me. It was a big change for me to move away from an area where I had built expertise and a valued client base, and to put my full trust in all of Kroll to collectively want to achieve this new vision. The first smart move I made after my leap was leaning into the relationships I had at Kroll, admitting what I knew (and what I didn’t know) and bringing on thought partners throughout the business.

Company Name: Kroll

Personal Philosophy: Treat others as you wish to be treated.

What was your first job: Transfer pricing associate

Family: Husband, Peter Weise, and sons, Ben and Nicholas Weise

Jill Weise

There is significant value in building and executing an enterprise-wide Impact strategy. We set out with the goal of unifying and supporting Kroll’s people. Through our work, we are building emotional and retentive glue, while acting as responsible corporate citizens. The market is also demanding corporations build impact into their identity and business practic es. Further, impact and corporate citizenship are top of mind for financial sponsors. At the end of the day though, my journey is about supporting a platform that allows our brilliant people to thrive at work and reach incredible achievements as one Kroll.

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I would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for selecting me for this prestigious award. I am honored to be recognized alongside such inspiring women.

Favorite charity: Community Blood Center

Chief Impact Officer

Number of Employees: 6,000 worldwide

Interests: Crossword puzzles, tennis, dogs, and philanthropy

Industry: Risk, governance & growth

Words you live by: Always practice loyalty and respect.

When I identify the factors that have influenced my career, what sticks out to me are two passions: my love of math and my love of people. My love of math led me to transfer pricing, where I started my career. I spent 25 years in the field, and as I rose through the ranks at Kroll, I gained greater access to top leadership and the opportunity to look across the organization as a whole— not just my specific area of expertise.

Who We Are, Not Just What We Do

It struck me that although there were a lot of won derful corporate social responsibility initiatives at the company, they were often siloed efforts. I believed that if we brought together what at the time were disparate parts—our Institute, Charitable Foundation, ESG efforts, and Inclusion and Diversity initiatives—we could be defined by who we were as an organization, instead of what we do. On the heels of our rebrand from Duff & Phelps to Kroll, I believed that what we needed most was to create unity through identity.

Education: BA, mathematics and economics, Bates College; MA, economics, The University of Chicago

Your Location (if different from above): Miami, Florida

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What book are you reading: The Heart of Business by Hubert Joly

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

When our CEO, Jacob Silverman, invited me to

Company CEO: Jacob Silverman

Let’s start with the good. Before rejoining Latham, I spent five years in the Solicitor General’s Office. Early in my tenure, a dinner brought together all of the women who had served in that Office. I arrived expecting to see a full room. There were three tables. As I sat down, I heard the other women compare numbers: “I was number three,” “I was number seven.” They asked my number, but I had no idea. These amazing women at the height of their careers knew how rare it was to be there. Having joined as one of several, I didn’t realize there was something to count.

That is progress. Fast forward many years. I’m back at Latham and walking my daughter to school. We are talking about the Supreme Court. (She is six, but stuck with a Supreme Court lawyer as a mom.) I excitingly tell her that three women now sit on the Court. Three! But how many men, she asked? (Okay, she said boys.) Six, I said. Her response: that’s not fair.

Company CEO: Richard Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner

Personal Philosophy: You can’t control other people, but you can control your response.

What book are you reading: Since I spend most of my day reading for work, I save my fun reading for vacation. I recently finished Educated by Tara Westover and have The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne uploaded for my next trip.

Melissa Arbus Sherry

So how do we create more leaders? I don’t have all the answers, but here are two pieces of advice that helped me: (i) embrace discomfort, and (ii) say yes more than you say no.

industries. The number of women from private practice at the Supreme Court lectern is dismal. And I find myself too often the only female partner in the room.

Favorite charity: Hospice of the Piedmont

Industry: Law

Here’s to Losing Count

Words you live by: It will get done.

What was your first job: I worked at Häagen-Dazs in a New Jersey mall all through high school. I still make a really good milkshake.

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Education: JD, University of Virginia School of Law; BA, Tufts University

Family: My husband (also a lawyer) and I met in college, and we have a multi-talented 6-year-old daughter who plans to be an actress-artist-lawyer-President when she grows up.

Partner, Supreme Court and Appellate Practice; Vice Chair, Associates Committee

Interests: Travel, puzzling, and TV (Ozark and Succession are favorites, and I just cried my way through the final season of This is Us.)

Number of Employees: 5,000+

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

I am not a natural public speaker—a strange confes sion from someone who chose to be an oral advocate for a living, but true. Standing at the podium terrified me. Yet I made myself say “yes” at the first oral argu ment opportunity—yes when I had a chance to apply to work in the SG’s office, where I would argue before the Supreme Court, and yes when Latham asked me to serve as the deputy managing partner of the DC office, which required me to speak publicly multiple times a week for four years.

I am part of an in-between generation of women. I didn’t have it as hard as those before me. But through my daughter’s eyes, I can see things are still not where they should be.

My daughter is not wrong. The number of women leaders is trending up, but we remain a minority in many

Company Name: Latham & Watkins

The more you do something that makes you un comfortable, the more comfortable you become. When you say yes, more doors open. More opportunities arise. It is those opportunities that will create the next generation of women leaders. And it is those leaders that will help my daughter grow up in a world she finds “fair”—a world in which we simply lose count.

I try to look for harmony rather than balance. Some days, that means all of my attention is on my work; on other days, I try to stay away from email and am immersed in family, friends, and personal life. I trust that, even with so many drawers open, all of the roles I play come together and I find fulfillment that way.

I describe how people approach responsibility in terms of opening dresser drawers. Some open one drawer, grab what they need, then close the drawer and move on—the compartmentalized approach. Others, like me and many women I know, like to open all the drawers, flinging out every item and considering every possibility.

When my daughters were younger, we discussed the topic of stay-at-home moms. One asked, “Why do you work?” I answered truthfully that I love meeting inter esting people and engaging with complex ideas, and I enjoy the stimulation.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Education: Diploma in Singapore Law, National University of Singapore; LLB, King’s College London

Of course, guilt still arises from societal expectations of working parents and undoubtedly more so of moth ers. My youngest daughter’s birthday overlaps with a big annual firm meeting that I attend, so we often arrange her celebrations for earlier or later. It’s a solution that isn’t always perfect, but has worked for us.

Number of Employees: 5,000+

Your Location (if different from above): Singapore

What was your first job: I worked as a journalist intern for six months before law school, while applying for a scholarship to get a job at a national newspaper. My beat covered financial news.

As my daughters were growing up, they loved com ing to the office. Over time, they have seen the other side of their mom’s life, as well as their dad’s—also a lawyer. My hope is that by observing us, both as parents and as professionals, my children will be ready for all the opportunities available to them and challenges that lie ahead, and know that there are not societal stereotypes they must fit into.

Company CEO: Richard Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner

Words you live by: Everyone has setbacks, but the good days will come and the sun will rise.

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Personal Philosophy: Focus on work-life harmony rather than work-life balance.

Partner and Executive Committee Member

Sharon Lau

I am not shy about wanting to have it all. I enjoy picking up new activities and juggling responsibilities, from the office to the home. My goal and constant challenge is achieving harmony. I know many consider work-life balance to be the ultimate goal, but to me, that implies allotting equal time, and as a result, the two are inherently in conflict.

Even with my proclivity for taking on new responsibil ities, my time is limited. Choosing to do a lot means you won’t always finish what you choose to do. These are lessons I’m beginning to accept, as I learn that a crucial

No Stereotypes for My Daughters—or Yours

Company Name: Latham & Watkins

Industry: Law

What book are you reading: Like many others during the pandemic, I dabbled in sour dough baking. I’ve been reading Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson, which contains excellent recipes and details on technique, but also delves into the cultural and historical context of sourdough.

Favorite charity: World Vision, a nonprofit international relief and development organization

Interests: I’m a huge fan of Crossfit, which fits my personality quite well.

Family: I have a husband, whom I married the year I joined Latham and who is am M&A lawyer as well. We have two girls, Emma and Sarah, neither of whom want to be lawyers after seeing how many calls we participate in.

element of having it all is embracing imperfection. I wish I had received that advice as a first-year associate, and I try to share it with colleagues (women or men) now. We need to learn from imperfect situations and recalibrate our expectations to reach a true state of harmony.

When I attended law school back in the 1980s, law firm culture differed from the accepting workplaces that embrace female attorneys today. Women accounted for only 16 percent of practicing attorneys and roughly 7 percent of state and federal judges.

Although I worked with some wonderful and re spectful colleagues, biased policies and toxic cowork ers suffocated our day-to-day routine. Women weren’t allowed to wear pants, and our employee benefits package accommodated only two weeks of maternity leave. Even worse, sexual harassment went unpun ished. My female colleagues and I would often huddle in the restroom to support one another when one of us received an assignment from “that male law firm partner with the wandering eye.”

Company Headquarters Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Personal Philosophy: Honesty, hard work, and kindness—a winning trifecta. What book are you reading: Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Favorite charity: Pope Francis Center

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Interests: Photography, DIY home renovations, and boating

What was your first job: File clerk

Change Happens, But It Doesn’t Happen Easily

shouldn’t be afraid to mix up the sequence of their careers and family lives. Even in the face of today’s progress in the workplace, they should still make time to create priorities and live by them. At the same time, they shouldn’t be afraid to shift them around as needed. Change, after all, is constant—but it does not come easily. How women implement their plans will be the key to designing a rewarding career and fulfilling life.

Family: Husband, four kids, two dogs, and many extended family members, including my beloved parents

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed to act quickly to succeed at work on my terms. And I started small. First, I started wearing pantsuits to work. I remember my managing partner’s face when I walked in that morning; he didn’t know where to look! After the birth of my first child, I told the HR department I wanted to go part-time, even though the firm didn’t have a part-time policy. Despite this, I talked the firm’s HR officer into letting me write one. It was a huge deal, and I felt like a pioneer. Still, when my second child

Director of Legal Services

Company Name: LegalEase Solutions LLC

Industry: Legal Services

Education: ): BA, University of Michigan; JD summa cum laude, Michigan State University School of Law

Number of Employees: More than 200 Words you live by: “Know thyself.” –Greek adage

Company CEO: Tariq Akbar

Patrice Asimakis

When my children started school, I met many other former professionals who also had decided to give up their careers. We were all caught in that generation who were told we could have it all, and we believed it. Yet we all realized we needed to change those priorities to satisfy other needs and areas of our lives. Sure, when I later decided to transition from being a mom of four back into a legal role, the process was almost paralyzing. But by taking a break from climbing the partnership ladder, I knew what I was looking for in my next position. And I didn’t settle until I found the rightWomenfit.

arrived, I was miserable; I felt that I was cheating on my children at work and my employer at home. This dichotomy led to my third radical decision: resigning to focus on my family.

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Industry: Insurance Asset Management

Company Headquarters Location: Radnor, Pennsylvania

Interests: Family, travel, beach, and skiing

The past two years have changed how businesses, the economy, and society operate—no one was left unaffected by the pandemic. It has certainly changed the world of work, and in some cases, accelerated trends that were just beginning to pick up speed, like the transition to digital. As employees navigated their new normal, both personally and professionally, employers began shifting their approach to adapt and address the evolving needs of the workforce. The fact that we were working differently did not get in the way of providing employees with the access and information they needed to work and make informed decisions.

quickly became an essential need. Resources that lived in print pre-pandemic needed to be quickly transitioned to digital and made available on-demand or within digital tools, like applications and virtual dashboards. And as the pandemic shifted the desire to be within physical proximity of the workplace, there also came a need for flexible tools that could be accessed from any device, at any time, from anywhere across the globe. This required investments in easy-to-use and stream lined digital experiences that kept users engaged, despite distractions from the world around them.

Sharon Scanlon

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Number of Employees: More than 10,000 Words you live by: Family is everything.

We Cannot Look to the Past to Move Us Forward

The first piece of this puzzle was ensuring digital access. While mobile and digital tools were previously a nice to have, when the world went virtual, they

While the pandemic challenged us to work in different ways, it also led to advancements in digital technology that will serve us all for years to come. It taught us that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to the future of work, so we cannot look to the tactics implemented in the past to move us forward. We must remain flexible and continue to evolve, change and grow, and the digital advancements we’ve seen come as a result of the pandemic are just one step forward in allowing us to do just that.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for this prestigious award. I am honored to be recognized among this amazing group of talented and dynamic women who have made significant contributions within their industries.

Personal Philosophy: Do unto others as you would want them to do to you. What book are you reading: Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg . . . again What was your first job: COBOL Programmer

Favorite charity: Janelle Lavender Tobin Memorial Foundation

Company CEO: Ellen Cooper

Senior Vice President, Customer Experience, Producer Solutions and Retirement Plan Services Operations

Education: Bachelor of Science, political science, Northeastern University

Company Name: Lincoln Financial Group

Family: Husband and four children

Partner/Patent Attorney/DEI Chair

Jokingtoday.aside, I know that I was afforded these wonderful opportunities both because of the generous people I met and because of work and preparation to meet the opportunities throughout my academic and professional career. I also know that not everyone is so

Industry: Law

I often jokingly say that my career happened by following a path of least resistance because I was fortunate to come across wonderful opportunities offered by many amazing people I met along the way. I was invited to join my PhD advisor’s laboratory at the University of Illinois. I was invited to join my post-doc advisor’s laboratory at Northwestern University. And I

Words you live by: Be the change you want to see in the world; take the risk to go outside of your comfort zone.

What book are you reading: Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris

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What was your first job: Museum of Science & Industry guide lecturer

Number of Employees: 185

Lynn Janulis

It also offers me the opportunity to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and perform pro bono work to help those who have not had the same opportunities as I. It turns out that helping to create opportunities for others is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”

Personal Philosophy: Strive to treat others as you wish to be treated. –the good old Golden Rule

fortunate to have been given the same opportunities and the support I had from family, friends, and mentors along the way.

Company Headquarters Location: Chicago, Illinois

Thankfully, my career affords me the opportunity to do interesting and meaningful work in advising clients and obtaining patent protection for clients in the biotech/life sciences field. It also offers me the

was invited to apply for a position at Marshall, Gerstein and Borun LLP, the law firm in Chicago where I am a partner

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Company CEO: n/a

Education: JD, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (John Marshall); PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Interests: Music, Photography, Travel

“

The Path of Least Resistance Led Me to a Rewarding Career

Company Name: Marshall, Gerstein and Borun LLP

opportunity to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and perform pro bono work to help those who have not had the same opportunities as I. It turns out that helping to create opportunities for others is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. So following the path of least resistance sometimes provides one a very worthwhile journey and opens up even more opportunities.

Remember, Clients and Colleagues Are Also People

Company Name: Mayer Brown LLP Industry: Law

great job with this project, but your meetings can’t be all work, work, work. Sometimes you just need to chit chat with the clients.”

Family: Two parents, two brothers, one sister-in-law, two nieces, and one dog

Personal Philosophy: Do what is right, not what is easy.

What was your first job: Working for my parents at their art gallery and framing store

Co-head of Mayer Brown’s Supreme Court & Appellate Practice

The best advice I ever received was this: “Some times, you just need to chit chat,” meaning that it is important not just to do the job, but to get to know yourAftercolleagues.college and before I went to law school, I worked at a large consulting firm. I worked onsite at a client’s office; we were there to do a big project to update the client’s computer systems. One of my responsibilities was to schedule and run meetings

job. (I still remember when we finished the project and had team karaoke night.)

As I have progressed in my career, I have always remembered what my boss said about the importance of having good relationships with colleagues. And I have really enjoyed the friends I have made along the way. Looking back, I am so grateful that I had a boss who wanted me to be successful and gave me the feedback I needed so early in my career.

with our client representatives about the project, where we’d talk about how things were going and what tasks we had to do next. I wanted to be very efficient in those meetings, because I wanted to show the client that we were doing a good job on the project, and I didn’t want to waste the client’s time.

Nicole A. Saharsky

I guess I came across as a bit too ruthlessly efficient, because one day, after a meeting, my boss pulled me aside and said something like, “Look, you’re doing a

Company CEO: Jon Van Gorp, Chair

Company Headquarters Location: n/a

She was right. I had been so focused on getting the work done, and doing a good job, that I had not really gotten to know our client representatives, or form personal relationships with them. Once I did that, it seemed like we all started working better together as a team. And we had a lot more fun—both on and off the

What book are you reading: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Favorite charity: Alice’s Kids in Alexandria, Virginia

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As I have progressed in my career, I have always remembered what my boss said about the importance of having good relationships with colleagues.”

“

Education: BS, Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University; JD summa cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School

Number of Employees: Nearly 3,800 globally Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

Interests: Baking with my nieces, competing in triathlons with my younger brother, and spoiling my dog

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Words you live by: Eat dessert first.

Number of Employees: ~220,000

What was your first job: Intern at ABB

Women Must Ask for What We Want

Please check to (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkgQ9f7KJaw

Company Headquarters Location: Redmond, Washington

We are at a pivotal moment in history when we could seize this momentum to disrupt inequities, fuel systemic change, and create a shift in mindset that will spark the kind of movement the world has never seen. And this movement starts with us. It starts with women everywhere taking the first step to JUST ASK for what they want.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Women are in crisis now, and we need your help. While we have made progress, the world is chang ing faster than we can keep up with it, and women are foundational to dealing with change. We are grateful to all the women trailblazers, past and present, who have inspired and fought for progress. We can no longer wait for them to go it alone. We have proven that, together, women have the power to heal the world. It’s time to create a world that embraces the power women bring!

Company CEO: Satya Nadella

Self-Advocacy

World Was in Crisis, WOMEN STEPPED UP AND HELPED THE WORLD ADJUST TO LIFE THROUGH THEButPANDEMIC.hereweare today. It’s 2022 and, globally, women are still the most underrepresented, underpaid, and undervalued demographic. Did you know that only 4.6% (23) of the Fortune Global 500 CEOs are female? Representation matters, and the pandemic has impacted Women disproportionately. In 2020 alone, women globally lost more than 64 million jobs! According to the World Economic Forum, the global effects of the pandemic have grown the gender gap from 99.5 to 135.6 years in the span of just the first 12 months None of this makes sense—especially when you consider that closing the worldwide gender gap in the workforce could add $28 trillion to the global GDP—$28 trillion! This gap isn’t due to lack of talent and capability.

Bhavana Bartholf

Education: Master’s degree, engineering, North Carolina State University

Your Location (if different from above): Charlotte, North Carolina

Global Head of Digital and Sales Strategy, CSA

As we all adjust to life through the pandemic, I want to take a moment to reflect on something important: When the world was in crisis and came to a halt, women across the planet stepped up, making personal sacrifices to be there for everyone around them at home and in their work, and helped the world move forward andWhenadjust.the

out my TEDx Talk to help us ask for what we want: The Secret

Company Name: Microsoft Corporation Industry: Technology

Words you live by: Simply Imagine what’s possible.... It starts with you!

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Favorite charity: Gift of Adoption

Personal Philosophy: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

Interests: Cooking and spending time with family and friends

)

SIMPLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID…

Family: Husband: Matt, and my Minions, Grady, Maddie, and Ellie

I am deeply humbled and would like to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for the honor of this award. It is a testament to a personal philosophy reinforced by family and mentors that if you are prepared, accountable, professional, respectful, and kind, life fulfillment and happiness will be achieved.

While perhaps not a naturally optimistic person, I make a daily choice to go through life with a positive mindset. A colleague once created Kimberly’s Silver Linings Playbook and jotted down notes of positive re marks I had provided in response to difficult situations. Then the pandemic struck and brought unimaginable change to our lives. While I grieve for the lives lost, illnesses afflicted, missed human connections, and experiences our children were deprived of, I reflect on the unexpected working environment opportunities we received during these past two years.

Pandemic Silver Linings

What I hope will remain is avoiding working in a cer tain way just because that is what has always been done, and embracing the flexibility and nimbleness we have all shown to achieve personal and professional fulfillment, including continuing the momentum of a hybrid working environment. What I hope will remain is employers and employees communicating and collaborating together to find new, innovative ways to achieve greater levels of jointValuesuccess.yourself.

Words you live by: Choose happiness.

Favorite charity: Bay Area Crisis Nursery

Company Name: Moss Adams

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While each industry has a different experience,

Number of Employees: 3,800

As the pandemic shifts, I am excited to return to a sense of normalcy, and have enjoyed returning to physical work sites and being in-person with clients and colleagues. What I hope will remain is for each of us to re flect on what is truly important to us, both personally and professionally, and to prioritize finding a way to achieve it, even if it is in a different way than the past two years.

Education: MAcc and BS, accounting, Case Western Reserve University

Company Headquarters Location: Seattle, Washington

Advocate for yourself. Embrace curiosity and possibility. Choose happiness.

I love my career and its focus on clients and people. I enjoy traveling to conferences and client sites, and interacting with professionals. Pre-pandemic, more often than not, my days were filled with battling traffic commutes and airport lines to reach my working destina tion. Once the pandemic hit, many of us quickly pivoted to find creative solutions to maintain productivity and connectedness with colleagues and clients, including leaning in to virtual meetings.

every company required a new level of innovative thinking and employee input to continue executing on its mission. New working styles proved that work goals could be achieved with added personal and corporate benefits. Without the daily commute, there were fewer expenses and more time to devote to new work deliverables. There was also additional time for personal goals, such as health and wellness, hobbies, and family involvement.

Company CEO: Eric Miles

What was your first job: Soccer referee

Industry: Public accounting

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Your Location (if different from above): Walnut Creek, California

Interests: Soccer, running, travel, reading, and family time

Kimberly Sokoloff Assurance Services Senior Manager

What book are you reading: All In: An Autobiography, by Billie Jean King, Johnette Howard, and Maryanne Vollers

Family: Husband and 4-year-old daughter

Personal Philosophy: Be prepared. Be accountable. Be professional. Be respectful. Be kind.

“

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What was your first job: Gas station cashier and babysitter

Your Location (if different from above): Baltimore, Maryland

Although the ceiling has been raised, and perhaps cracked, it still exists. It is critical for women and men to support women in their efforts to grow their net work often by being intentional in selecting women professionals so that they all rise together.

Family: I have a 7-year-old son.

Although the ceiling has been raised, and perhaps cracked, it still exists. It is critical for women and men to support women in their efforts to grow their network often by being intentional in selecting women professionals so that they all rise together.”

While many firms have significantly ramped up

Industry: Law

Company Name: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Words you live by: Be Kind and Be Present.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Education: JD, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law; College; BA cum laude, Cornell College

Company CEO: James Lehman

While women in law have seen the ceiling raised, the glass ceiling still exists. According to the Ameri can Bar Association, although women make up more than half of all law school graduates since 2000, the number of women in leadership roles in U.S. law firms is less than half. According to the National Association

Company Headquarters Location: Columbia, South Carolina

their DEI efforts to help address the ceiling, there remain significant challenges for women to break through that last hurdle. To progress in most law firms, you must have the ability to generate significant work for yourself and others. Corporate America is still largely white and male, and key referral sources look

Number of Employees: 930+

Favorite charity: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland

The Glass Ceiling Has Been Cracked, but . . .

Interests: Gardening, painting, reading, traveling, and trying new foods

Colleen Pleasant Kline Partner

of Women Lawyers, only 21 percent of all equity part ners were female in 2020 and only about 31 percent were non-equity partners. These numbers decline significantly for women of color who make up only four percent of non-equity partners and three percent of equity partners.

the same. This often results in many key relationships being controlled by white men.

What book are you reading: The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind

“

These programs all have the same purpose: to continue investing in our most valuable asset, our people. They are the greatest investment I can make.”

Their Success Is My Passion

Co-Founder & President

What book are you reading: My latest reading has been articles focused on the social justice issues we are facing in this country and what we can do to bring about meaningful change for those who need it most.

with professionals to help them navigate the challenges and triumphs that come when building a career. But the program isn’t limited to those who work with us at New American Funding. We welcome professionals from out side the business as well. It’s also why I established the 360 Mentorship Program, an internal mentorship pro gram that matches experienced, senior-level employees with earlier career employees for extensive guidance and career training.

That’s why I established the Thrive and Lead mentorship program several years ago. I work closely

Words you live by: If you see it, you can be it.

Company CEO: Rick Arvielo

Number of Employees: 4,400+

Company Headquarters Location: Tustin, California

What was your first job: Clerical position at TransUnion Credit

Company Name: New American Funding

At New American Funding, we are working hard to build a truly multicultural workforce that is prepared to

Industry: Financial services

Personal Philosophy: Always take responsibility for yourself.

Favorite charity: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County

Education: n/a

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Interests: Traveling and spending time with my friends and family Family: My husband, Rick; daughter, Tara; and my two sons, Trevor and Dominic

We also offer a program called If You Want to Grow, We Want to Know, which allows employees to share their goals and aspirations with me and other senior leaders for potential advancement in the company. These programs all have the same purpose: to continue investing in our most valuable asset, our people. They are the greatest investment I can make.

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I’ve been very fortunate in my career, having built a successful company that is thriving. Our success is driven by our people. They’re our greatest resource. Now, more than anything, I want to do everything I can to support them, and help them grow and build their careers in the mortgage business. My chief goal now is to see our amazing team members flourish.

Patty Arvielo

thrive as society shifts. And one of my main focuses is helping all of these amazing people build careers they can be proud of. Mentorship has long been a passion of mine. I have sought to share my experience and expertise with those who are at earlier stages in their careers to help them pursue their dreams.

Vice President & Head of the DE&I Center for Awareness & Advocacy

I had my first opportunity to work in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion field when I became the co-chair of the women’s employee resource group at my company. Many of the skills I learned in college and in my sorority transferred well in this role.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Favorite charity: Present Future Foundation, Inc.

Interests: Personal development, time with friends and family, reading, fitness, and dancing

Personal Philosophy: Express gratitude and pay it forward.

What was your first job: In high school, I worked for a telemarketing firm.

Then in 2020, I had the opportunity to serve as New York Life’s CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow, where I worked with fellows from companies across the nation to identify, develop, and promote public policies and corporate engagement strategies to support social justice and societal well-being. In my current role as the head of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Center for Awareness and Advocacy, I’m grateful to share my pas sion by continuing to advance the company’s inclusive culture of belonging by educating, engaging, and de veloping employees so they can thrive in their careers.

Words you live by: Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest. Until your good is your better. And your better is your best.

the community well after graduating from college.

Company Name: New York Life

I Am Passionate about Paying It Forward

I am passionate about building deep relationships, helping others develop personally and professionally, and paying it forward.

Industry: Financial services

Number of Employees: 10,000+

What book are you reading: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

I have been and still am fortunate to have others invest their time and talent with me, and I learned early to express gratitude and reach back to bring someone else forward.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

While in college, I mentored high school and fellow college students. I learned the importance of mentoring relationships from the professors on my historically black college campus who mentored students, stayed late, and asked about students’ lives—not just their grades. As a member of my sorority, I developed scholarships, programs, and events that furthered the education and development of people in the communities where I lived and served. I learned to lead and serve from the sorority sisters that came before me and continued to serve in

Education: BS, Johnson C. Smith University

Company CEO: Craig DeSanto

Catherine L. Council

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In my career, I have had the unique opportunity to evolve and reinvent myself repeatedly, while working at New York Life for 28 years (and counting!). I started my career in technology as a trainee. I have had role models, mentors, and sponsors who have contributed to my growth throughout my career. I, in turn, was able to bring my passion for building relationships and helping others to my teams, peers, and mentees to help further their growth and development.

I was the child in grade school who helped other students with their homework and studying. I learned to assist others by watching my mother help us with our work and studies. Throughout high school, I read books voraciously, studied a variety of subjects, and shared what I learned with friends and family members. I learned to love to read from my aunt, who would read books and, in detail, narrate the plot and meaning throughout, bringing characters and concepts to life.

Family: Proud mother of one son

What was your first job: Hattie’s Food Hub

What am I passionate about? Isn’t it amazing that with billions of people in this world, we are all different? Each person is unique. I am unique, and you are unique. Our physical features are not alike and each of us has our own unique personality. Even identical twins have different characteristics, desires, and skills. Some of us are good at sports, others have musical ability. Some like to grow a garden and others would rather stay inside and read a book. Every one of us has wants, desires, and skills that differ from others.

Words you live by: Advocating for inclusion, one runway at a time

Company CEO: Olivia DePiore

Personal Philosophy: Include all peoples, no matter how different or alike they are.

International Model and Inclusion Advocate

Favorite charity: American Cancer Society

Being a leader is fun and it makes me feel good. Both Dubai and Milan Fashion Weeks recognized my efforts and talent in breaking down barriers, while representing big-name designers. I will continue to be a leader and “advocate for inclusion….one runway at a time.”

Remember, we are all unique. I am passionate about being a leader in advocating for inclusion and making myself “visible,” so people ev erywhere normalize those who are different from them. We all should be given a chance to reach our goals.

I’m Advocating for Inclusion, One Runway at a Time

I am passionate about modeling and advocating for inclusion in the world. I am “advocating for inclusion, one runway at a time.”

Family: Mother and Father, Vicky & John DePiore

What book are you reading: The Bible

Industry: Fashion and Inclusion

I am a twenty-five year old international model. I have graced New York Fashion Week multiple times, as well as walking the runaways of Milan, New York, Paris, Dubai, and Los Angeles—the biggest fashion markets in the world. I have Down Syndrome, but that doesn’t get me down. I am dif ferent, I am unique. I wanted to be a model, so I went for it. To learn more about modeling, I studied other models’ poses, actions, and characteris tics. Some people thought I wasn’t the right shape or size to be a model.

Your Location (if different from above): Twinsburg, Ohio

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Regardless of what you are passionate about, what goals you have, you should have the opportunity to participate in those activities to be able to work towards reaching your goals. Everyone should have that opportunity. Everyone should be included. What am I passionate about?

But I know there are people of all shapes and sizes in the world. There are people who want to buy clothes, that may have been a customer who previously was ignored or avoided, but if recognized appropriately, could truly increase profits and good will to an entirely new population.

Olivia DePiore

Interests: Modeling, helping children, and raising monies for American Cancer Society

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

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Number of Employees: More than 350

This dynamic between self-doubt and the drive for achievement is often exasperating for women who balance their careers with family duties. Most

Words you live by: Be open-minded and willing to learn.

Family: Spouse, 1 daughter (age 12), and 2 sons (age 15 and 9)

Over the past few years, the pandemic has ex posed the precarious balance many women were navigating between home and family. It also demon strated to a lot of organizations that there are many roles where employees can be highly productive out side the constraints of a traditional office location and hours. The move towards more flexibility in location and working hours will be a game changer for the next generation of women leaders.

Personal Philosophy: Try new things, life is about experiences.

Interests: Performing arts, skiing, golf, basketball, architecture, and design

Vice President, Member Experience

What was your first job: Performing artists management

Company Name: OPTrust

women find it extremely challenging to manage both work and family, and feel like they’re doing both well. It is possible to be driven at work and focused on family and not allow one to diminish the importance you place on the other. Over my career I’ve seen more and more women able to redefine their outlook and tailor what success looks like for them. More and more women are advocating for the support they need at home and at work to be able to continue to do both.

I have worked with many bright, talented women. Many of these women also undervalue what they bring to the table and lack the confidence many of their male peers possess. It can be a trap to become so focused on high achievement that you miss the successes along the way. I’ve found that we can be too critical of ourselves, allowing a drive to perfec tion to get in the way of recognizing our talents and capabilities. Recognizing this dynamic is key to sup porting women in the workplace to build confidence and ensure that they are tapped for development opportunities that will place them on an advance ment path.

Education: Global Professional Master of Laws, University of Toronto; Honours Bachelor of Arts Management, University of Toronto

Favorite charity: Canadian Cancer Society

Jesusa Chow

When I first entered the workforce, it wasn’t very common to see women in senior leadership roles. It’s been inspiring to watch this shift during my career. Women continue to make great strides in the work place, but there are still challenges many of us must wrestle with as we continue to grow in our careers.

What book are you reading: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

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Company CEO: Peter Lindley

Industry: Pension

Workplace Flexibility Will Be a Game Changer

Company Headquarters Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Seeing the challenges women face in the workplace is key to the success of an organization, and those who tackle these challenges head-on will always be more successful at recruiting and retaining top talent.

What was your first job: College teaching assistant

Personal Philosophy: Stay focused and press ahead.

Company Name: Partnership for Inclusion Leadership

Industry: Nonprofit

Education: PhD, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; MS, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Company CEO: Youlanda Gibbons, PhD

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Interests: Writing and organizational transformation

The internal and external expectations for women of color to perform as leaders ensure that double jeopar

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Founder and CEO

Family: Support and laughter

Until dealing with the negative impact of workplace sexism and racism is inextricably tied to organizational goals and outcomes, diversity and inclusion efforts will serve as revolving doors and lead to the same point of entry.”

“

The Double Jeopardy of Sexism and Racism

Youlanda Gibbons, PhD

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC

Words you live by: Sew good seeds, reap good fruit.

For decades, evidence-based research has shown that double jeopardy negatively affects women of color in the workplace. Double jeopardy refers to the simul taneous forces of sexism and racism experienced by women of color. The compounded effects of misogyny and racism have resulted in a persistently low number of women of color in executive-level positions.

Favorite charity: The Humane Society

dy is inescapable. Consequently, professional women of color must break through a concrete ceiling that is upheld by male standards of performance, leadership biases, emotional and mental exhaustion, lack of men toring, and substandard management support. Until dealing with the negative impact of workplace sexism and racism is inextricably tied to organizational goals and outcomes, diversity and inclusion efforts will serve as revolving doors and lead to the same point of entry.

What book are you reading: Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey

How the Pandemic Helped Me Find My Voice

Tammy Buchert

Chief Administrative Officer

Personal Philosophy: Use your voice, listen to your partners, trust your gut.

Like so many other businesses, in March 2020 RBC Wealth Management–U.S. embarked on the enormous task of sending 5,000 employees home to work remotely for “just a few weeks” to slow the spread of COVID-19. Even though we had strong business continuity plans, there were many decisions that had to be made in the moment. Five days before I was scheduled to leave on a spring-break vacation, our CEO asked me to form a task force to make this transition. A small team worked around the clock from our boardroom to make plans for our U.S. employees to work from home. It was in these early days of the pandemic that my leadership voice took shape.

Of course, those “few weeks” turned into almost two years in which I led the COVID-19 task force through sending colleagues home, enabling sustainable remote

While I did not have the expertise to craft the mes sages, ready the technology, or navigate the regulatory impacts, I did have the ability to lead the team. I found the group of experts benefited from a solid, central leader who pulled the team together to ensure we were all working on the same evolving objectives, providing in-the-moment approvals, and ensuring new team mem bers were brought in when gaps were identified. I did sneak away with my family for that vacation, but worked out of the rental home pretty much 24/7 to continue leading the team.

Company Name: RBC Wealth Management–U.S.

Even before the pandemic’s work-from-home model, we were building a workplace that would be ready for the future, with unassigned yet reservable desks, mobilityenabling technology, and other future-minded concepts. Then the pandemic sent most of our colleagues home, and we refined our plans to support the evolving work place world. This spring, we welcomed 1,600 colleagues back to work in our new office. This was the project of my career, and I’m so thankful for the contributions of so many people that made RBC Gateway a reality.

So what is my voice? It recognizes those around me, it makes sure we have fun, and it provides a central point to ensure the team has what it needs to continue to move forward.

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Education: BS, accounting, University of Wisconsin; MBA, University of St. Thomas

Industry: Financial services

work, fostering remote engagement and community, and thankfully, bringing people back to the workplace. In summer 2020, my leadership was recognized when I was promoted to chief administrative officer of RBC WealthAnotherManagement–U.S.opportunityto strengthen my voice came through leading the design and build of our new U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis. In early 2019, a small team of very talented people was formed to design our 310,000 square feet in the new RBC Gateway building. Together we set out to design the footprint of our 10 floors, determining which teams should sit next to each other, décor, food vendors, conference center design, future-forward technology, and much more.

Company Headquarters Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Number of Employees: 5,000

What was your first job: Waitress, Madonna Towers Assisted Living

Favorite charity: Camp Fire MN (Energizing youth to discover their spark through nature)

Words you live by: It starts with me.

Interests: Nature, travel, and reading historical fiction

Company CEO: Michael Armstrong

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Family: My husband, Patrick; 2 children (Heather, 22, and Ryan, 20); and Rizzo the dog!

What book are you reading: Work Like a Boss by Nancy Lyons

While the COVID-19 pandemic was and is horrific in so many ways, it did allow me to find my voice.

Certainly, I don’t think we’ll be going back to as many in-person meetings as pre-pandemic. There’s still value in the occasional face-to-face meeting, but it will no longer be the Accommodatingnorm. a remote workforce allows for greater diversity and inclusion—we are not prioritizing lawyers who fit into “traditional” frameworks for how a workforce must engage with the profession. The bottom line is that we reward talent for exceptional work—no matter where our lawyers are working. Our team appreciates having the flexibility to work remotely, and the resulting boost in morale helps us produce great work for clients.

Interests: Triathlons and whatever sports and activities my children are involved in Family: Married for 25 years, with three children

Favorite charity: Southern Poverty Law Center

In terms of permanency, I think the hybrid work model will become more or less institutionalized—if it hasn’t al ready. Recent surveys show that employees prefer having the option of working from home. Forward thinking em ployers should appreciate this evolution in how we work, and many are making adjustments to meet the needs of the new work environment.

Finally, while we’ve been fortunate enough to foster true collaboration and deliver value to our clients virtually, I realize that many companies continue to struggle on this front—a challenge that I think will ultimately spawn even better technology, business strategies, and processes tailored to the new hybrid workforce.

Education: BS, engineering, Swarthmore College; JD, NYU School of Law

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

Personal Philosophy: Be true to yourself.

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We have also tried to create safe opportunities for groups within our firm to gather in person for projects or social events that help instill a feeling of community. We are able to recruit and retain better talent by facilitating remote work. Think about it. Would we rather have an exceptional lawyer who happens to not live near one of our offices, or a less talented person just because they live near our brick and mortar?

The pandemic has forced this trend, but the result may be creating happier, more productive teams, who can achieve a better work-life balance. There’s no doubt the workforce is changing, and as always, the most successful companies will adapt to and thrive on those changes.

What was your first job: Working at a local hardware store

Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. Office

When we launched the firm in late 2018, our mission was to be the law firm of tomorrow. One key component of forming a nimble and progressive law firm was to value talent over brick and mortar. So, when the pandemic hit, and remote work became the norm, we were ahead of the curve; we were used to managing both our team and client needs remotely.

The Pandemic Helped Propel Work into a New Future

Having said all that, there are still significant challeng es that both employers and employees face as we navigate the new normal. Every business is different; some organizations may be more adept than others at embracing the hybrid workforce. And it’s important not to dismiss legitimate concerns around things like collabora tion and productivity, among other sticking points.

Christine E. Lehman

Company Name: Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF)

Industry: Law

Company CEO: Courtland Reichman, Managing Partner

Number of Employees: 30+

What book are you reading: Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride

Company Headquarters Location: Redwood City, California

Words you live by: “Just keep swimming” –Dory, Finding Nemo

Words you live by: Empowered women, empower other women.

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As responsible leaders, we must recognize that there is no gender justice without racial justice. The structures of racism and sexism have persisted in America since its beginning and therefore, the solutions to eradicate them involve synergizing the two. We must adopt the funda

Education: PhD, educational leadership, policy & law, Alabama State University

Personal Philosophy: You must be an advocate to help others achieve greatness.

It has been proven that racial and gender bias at work is extremely harmful to the professional, social, and emotional well-being of women of color, which ultimately limits their effectiveness and productivity. Therefore, companies must take intentional and deliberate action to overcome the negative impact of racial inequity in the workplace. Women of color have unique talents, experiences, and valuable characteris tics to offer to an organization. It is right to draw on the

Company Name: Renasant Bank

Your Location (if different from above): Birmingham, Alabama

Industry: Finance & banking

I would like to sincerely thank Profiles in Diversi ty Journal, for awarding me this prestigious honor in recognition of my service to promote gender and racial equity. I believe we all play a pivotal role in this mission.

What was your first job: Cashier at Burger King

Favorite charity: Educational Advancement Foundation

Interests: Traveling, reading, and service

Family: Jeff Adams; Bonus Son, JJ; Mother, Mrs. Callie Morant

Dr. Tracey Morant Adams

There’s No Gender Justice without Racial Justice

It is right to draw on the strengths of this remarkable culture of leaders to create a diverse and inclusive environment, thus building a healthy and stronger organization.”

Number of Employees: 2,400

mental understanding that achieving gender equity will require dismantling structures of racial oppression. This unfortunate reality has adversely impacted the upward mobility of women of color in the workplace by stifling their performance and, ultimately, their professional success. In recent years, our nation has seen and felt the unrest in our communities and across the country result ing from the issues of racial injustice and inequality. We must urgently recognize the impact of this unrest at an individual and collective level. We also must recognize how it disproportionately impacts women of color.

Company CEO: C. Mitchell Waycaster

Executive VP & Chief Community Development & Corporate Social Responsibility Officer

What book are you reading: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Isabel Wilkerson

strengths of this remarkable culture of leaders to create a diverse and inclusive environment, thus building a healthy and stronger organization.

Company Headquarters Location: Tupelo, Mississippi

As we continue to evolve today’s workplace as cen ters of excellence by offering growth opportunities for women leaders of all cultures, backgrounds, and experi ences, it is necessary that we speak boldly with courage and conviction about our belief in gender equity and ra cial equity in the workplace. Our voices must be authen tic and the results must be conclusive to demonstrate a sincere commitment to an inclusive workplace for all.

“

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Words you live by: Each of you, descendant of some passed-on traveler, has been paid for. –Maya Angelou

Personal Philosophy: To whom much is given, much is required. –Luke 12:48

What book are you reading: Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

Company CEO: Mark Rayfield

It can mean pipeline building, but also living by Saint-Gobain’s core principles of respect for others and solidarity by being that ear or shoulder a team member or peer needs at a vulnerable moment. It can mean offering my time to review a law-school admissions essay, helping an early-career professional negotiate his or her first in-house offer, or giving advice to someone mid-career, who may be contemplating changing professions altogether. In all these scenarios, opening up and being my true self gives others permission and encouragement to do the same.

What was your first job: Children’s dance instructor

Favorite charity: WHYY public media organization and Philadelphia Education Fund

Interests: Mentoring & community service

As a way to combat gender and racial bias, women and people of color often lean into our expertise in an effort to silence any doubt about our qualifications. We want to prove that we belong “in the room” or that we’ve earned our “seat at the table.” This intense focus on proving ourselves is not irrational. It’s borne out of keen awareness of the difficulties women and people of color have historically faced in corporate America.

La-Toya P. Hackney

Even if you’re fearful of opening up to your team and sharing more of your true self in the workplace, do not wait for an invitation to lead and do not hide or diminish your gifts. Our communities need your unique blend of knowledge, experience, talent, empathy, and candor. If your organization is like mine, it will embrace your willingness to share your whole self. As much as leadership is about getting results consistently, it’s also about compassion, integrity, and service. And no matter what, as you advance, always remember to reach back and lift up someone else.

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Number of Employees: Approximately 16,000

As we progress towards executive roles and become people leaders, we need a different set of tools to be effective and inspire our teams. We have to become more open, more vulnerable, and more empathetic to lead in the 21st century, particularly given the profound impacts of the pandemic. Being more open can be difficult if you’ve spent your career honing and trum peting your expertise. But make no mistake, empathy is essential to leadership.

Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and Secretary

Family: Married to Otis D. Hackney III, Chief Education Officer of Philadelphia; our daughter, Grace, attends Hampton University

Company Name: Saint-Gobain North America

It means stepping back from individual concerns in service of someone else.

Leadership Essentials: Empathy & Service

Company Headquarters Location: Malvern, Pennsylvania

Industry: Sustainable building materials manufacturing

Education: JD, Harvard Law School; BA with honors, English and African-American studies, Stanford University

At Saint-Gobain, our purpose is to make the world a better home, not only through our building solutions, but by committing to service, another leadership essential that has been transformative in my career. Community service and mentoring young lawyers, peers, and team members is crucial. To lead is to serve.

What was your first job: Swim instructor and lifeguard at the YMCA

Company Headquarters Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sewers and their functions should be invisible. When people become aware of their sewer system, something has gone wrong. I take pride in working in a field that, when our work is done right, no one knows exists. When water comes out of the tap and toilets flush and traffic signals change, no one thinks about the many engineers who are working hard for public health and safety. They may not be visible, but they can take pride in their work.

I am currently on a special assignment with Sandia National Laboratories to transition our campuses to net-zero emissions. Transitioning to net-zero campuses may not be as vital as providing clean water, but with earth and ocean temperatures rising, net-zero is urgent to help mitigate climate change.

Education: BS, environmental engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; MS, civil and environmental engineering, Stanford University

Words you live by: “All you need is love.” –John Lennon

Interests: Stand-up paddle boarding, gardening, raising children, and combating climate change

Family: Wonderfully supportive husband of 24 years and two boys (ages 9 and 16), who are the joy of my life

Favorite charity: Public schools and the super heroes who educate our children

Company Name: Sandia National Laboratories

Industry: Government–National Laboratory

Company CEO: James Peery, Laboratory Director

Personal Philosophy: Treat everyone with the same love and compassion you would your grandmother or your children.

Robin Jones Manager–Building Systems Engineering

Number of Employees: 15,000

Engineering work that truly helps people doesn’t

My mother was my first inspiration for water conservation. Growing up in southern California, we were always in a drought, and kids were taught at an early age that wasting water was a crime. One summer, my mother devised her own greywater reuse system. The rinse water from the washing machine emptied into a 32-gallon trashcan. That water would then be poured back into the washing machine for the next wash load. (We also gained upper body strength.) In the bathroom, cold water was caught in a bucket while waiting for the shower to get hot. That water was later used to flush the toilet. My mom instilled in me the importance of conservation and the engineering concepts of household plumbing.

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I am very grateful to have been given the opportu nity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at one of our national laboratories. I am very grateful to the scores of people who helped me get where I am today. If we can stop the rise of earth and ocean temperatures, then my work may just help save a whale after all.

My Work May Just Help Save a Whale after All

always bring fame—a lesson I learned at my first job after graduate school. I worked for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts in the Compton Field Office performing sewer maintenance. Glamorous it was not, but we were providing an essential service—taking away people’s dirty water.

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What book are you reading: Uncle Dynamite by P.G. Wodehouse

I chose environmental engineering as my major because, as an 18-year-old, I thought I would save whales and build solar cars. It turns out environmen tal engineering has nothing to do with either of those things. Environmental engineers design water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plans, air pollution controls, and remediation systems that remove harmful chemicals from the soil and groundwater. Environmental engineers clean up the environment and provide people with clean water and air—it’s in this intersection of people and environment that I found my passion.

For me, leadership is an ever-evolving challenge moving between being thoughtful yet decisive, coura geous yet vulnerable, strong yet forgiving, composed yet natural. Leading people is complex and nuanced, and influenced by many intangibles that represent the push and pull between these competing approaches. The people we lead are all different, and one’s leadership style must be just as diverse.

Thank you to Profiles in Diversity Journal for the honor of this award. This award not only highlights the many achievements and journeys of this year’s female leaders, but also their varied backgrounds and industries; it exemplifies the enormity of what it means to lead.

Inspiring Others to Have Confidence in Themselves

Kimberly Pino

most is the knowledge that I have the privilege of encouraging and inspiring others to have the confidence in themselves to be both thought ful and decisive, both courageous and vulnerable, both strong and forgiving, both composed and natural.

Company CEO: James Peery

Education: Master of Architecture, University of Nevada–Las Vegas; Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of New Mexico

Company Headquarters Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Personal Philosophy: Be bold enough to blaze a path and be humble enough to fail in doing so.

What book are you reading: Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger

Senior Manager, Facilities Capital Planning and Acquisition

Company Name: Sandia National Laboratories Industry: Facilities and Infrastructure

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Number of Employees: 15,000

As I reflect on my career journey, I’ve witnessed and learned: 1) Being genuine and transparent is more rewarding for people you engage with than a monetary “thank you” or a “swag” gift; 2) Leading with authenticity is motivating and rewarding because it fosters empathy and deeper appreciation in both directions, and, 3) A skilled leader feels when and how to ignite action, quiet a stressful situation, amplify the “feeling in the room,” and when to choose a colorful statement or a more diplomatic tactic. People are the central focus of leading, and one’s diversity and agility in how we connect to those people is where the magic truly resides.

In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “A good lead er inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”Whatfulfillsme

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Favorite charity: CLN Kids

I have been inspired by family, peers, bosses, and leaders who have modeled every point along this leadership spectrum. One of those leaders once said, “You manage things, and you lead people.” This has stuck with me for some time, mostly because it’s so simple to remember and is such a profound declara tion—leadership is just as much about others as it is about you.

Interests: Watching live sports (especially those my kids play), golf, getting lost in the outdoors, and pie

What was your first job: Mowing the lawn (and I didn’t get paid!); bagel and coffeemaker extraordinaire (this one I did get paid for)

Family: Husband (married for 17 years), son (11 years old), and daughter (10 years old)

Words you live by: Stop waiting for things to happen; go out and make them happen!

Attending a Quaker School Influenced My Career Choice

Words you live by: Try to find the good in every person and every situation.

What book are you reading: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

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refused to indict. I had to constantly keep in mind the Quaker values I’d learned of fighting against injustice, even when it is hard.

Company CEO: David Sanford, Chairman

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Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

I spent six years working as a prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice prosecuting civil rights crimes around the country. The bulk of the cases I prosecuted were police mis conduct cases, where the perpetrators were incredi bly powerful and the victims were often some of the most powerless in our society, including prisoners and undocumented immigrants. There’s an old joke that, because the defense doesn’t get to present evidence to a grand jury, a prosecutor can easily get an indict ment—in fact, that a prosecutor could persuade a grand jury to “indict a ham sandwich.” That wasn’t necessarily true for the civil rights cases I prosecuted. With such powerful defendants, grand jurors often

Industry: Law

Number of Employees: 90

Personal Philosophy: Always try to see the glass as half-full.

What was your first job: Retail sales clerk at a swimwear store

Christine Dunn Partner and Co-Chair of ViolenceCriminal/SexualPracticeGroup

Education: BA, Yale University; JD, University of Virginia School of Law

Interests: Hiking, paddle boarding, and yoga

Company Name: Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP

Favorite charity: Network for Victim Recovery of D.C. (NVRDC)

From the ages of 12 to 18, I attended a Quaker school. Although I am not a Quaker myself, the values of Quakerism really resonated with me. Quakers believe in equality and fighting injustice; they were among the earliest and most vocal opponents of slavery and the unequal treatment of women. I wasn’t consciously aware of it at the time, but those values have stuck with me and shaped my career path.

After leaving the Department of Justice, I joined Sanford Heisler Sharp, a civil-rights and social-justice law firm. There, I have helped to build the Criminal/ Sexual Violence Practice Group, which represents crime victims in their civil suits. For me, it feels like a natural next chapter, where I still represent and fight for survivors of sexual assault and other crimes, and also continue to work on civil rights cases. I think the Quaker teachers I had in school would approve.

As a prosecutor, I was outraged to find that many of the police misconduct cases I handled involved officers abusing their power to commit sexual assaults. Victims of crime often say that one of the worst parts is feeling like their power has been taken away. I spent countless numbers of hours with crime survivors and sexual assault survivors, preparing their cases. I gained a deep passion for victim advocacy work and for helping survivors to obtain justice and get their power back.

Melinda Koster

Womenaltogether.around the country are courageously step ping up to challenge discrimination in their workplaces and hold their employers accountable. I am proud to be part of this fight. But we need action from policymakers and employers too. To uplift mothers in the workplace, we need systemic changes. We need paid parental leave, a stronger childcare infrastructure, and robust laws to combat the motherhood wage penalty. We also need employer action. It is on employers, not only women employees and their lawyers, to eradicate maternal wall bias and build workplaces that truly support caregivers.

Company Name: Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP

What was your first job: Upward Bound tutor

Partner and Co-Chair of the Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group

Company CEO: David Sanford, Chairman

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But parenting transformed my passion for women’s rights from something that was relatively abstract to a deeply personal mission. On the playgrounds and in parenting groups, I’ve heard from mothers who were cruelly terminated right around the time they gave birth. Termination shouldn’t be the hallmark of matrescence, but it is all too common an occurrence.

Words you live by: Tzedek, tzedek tirdof. (Justice, justice you shall pursue.)

Breaking Down the Maternal Wall

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Education: BA summa cum laude, Pomona College; JD, Stanford Law School

While we often talk about the “glass ceiling” that needs to be shattered, a corollary to that glass ceiling is “maternal wall bias.” The latter refers to a form of bias rooted in discriminatory assumptions about mothers as less competent, less capable, and less committed. This bias affects women in all sectors and at all levels of the workforce. For many women, the proverbial glass ceiling is not within reach to shatter because maternal wall bias derails them

Number of Employees: 92

Modern-dayfirst.discrimination frequently occurs in subtle ways, with employers resorting to covert tactics. But, as I have seen with many of my clients, maternal wall bias often manifests itself in unvarnished directives

As we emerge from a pandemic that drove millions of women out of their careers—and disproportionately affected women of color—it is imperative that we rebuild equitably. Let’s together commit to smashing gender norms, tearing down the maternal wall, and shattering the glass ceiling.

to mothers: Stay home. Forgo travel. Have a “work-life balance.” Spend time with the kids. These directives are commonly invoked as excuses for promotion denials and demotions. Whether animated by outright hostility or paternalistic benevolence, employment decisions stemming from such bias have devastating consequenc es. They prevent women from providing for their families. And they thwart women from advancing through the ranks, often pushing them onto the “mommy track” or out

I gave birth to my daughter on March 9, 2020, just as the pandemic, and its distinctly gendered impacts, began raging. I have long been passionate about promoting women’s rights and dismantling gender-based barriers. It’s what led me to minor in women’s studies and immerse myself in feminist organizations in college. And it’s what inspired me to become an employment lawyer.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Industry: Law

Favorite charity: A Better Balance; Avodah

–Deuteronomy 16:20

Job Title: Partner and Co-Chair of the Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group

What book are you reading: The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

Interests: Spending time with friends and family, Pilates, and travel

Company CEO: n/a

What was your first job: Stocking shelves at a small town gift shop

I am fortunate to work on many complex and challenging M&A transactions. Sometimes my days are very exciting—counseling successful founders and entrepreneurs through tricky legal situations, bargaining for significant protections for a client, and of course, the rush of successfully closing an important transaction.

Company Name: Seward & Kissel LLP

Your Location (if different from above): Austin, Texas

Personal Philosophy: There are no shortcuts or substitutes for hard work.

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on my side.

Why the Steep Hill May Be Your Best Choice

Industry: Law

For example, to get home every day I can either walk up a steep hill or take a different route with a gentle incline. I live in Texas and it’s very hot a lot of the time, so if I were to think about it for longer than two seconds, I would take the easier route. Any bene fits from trudging up the steep hill are all but invisible. However, I know that over many months or, more likely, years, that routine daily effort will help keep my heart and my brain (my most valuable asset in the career I have chosen) healthy as I age. So every day I take the steep hill home, without stopping to think about whether I want to or not, because I know that time is

Favorite charity: Animal Legal Defense Fund; Equal Justice Initiative; Help For Children

Interests: Morning hikes with my rescue cattle dog, Blue; Veganism; and Yoga

Dora Pulido Counsel

What book are you reading: Eventide by Kent Haruf; Executed on a Technicality by David Dow

Education: JD, University of California–Berkeley School of Law; BA, New School University

But, more often, most of my time as a legal prac titioner and advocate is spent taking the steep hill day in and day out in preparation for future success: analyzing a long contract when the rest of the house hold has gone to sleep; hours in solitude drafting and redrafting complex fine points to precision; poring over what some may consider inconsequential details (not always the case); line-by-line analysis of a contract in preparation for a Monday morning negotiation; and bleary-eyed late nights and early mornings alongside my team in the days leading to a deal closing ensuring that nothing falls between the cracks. The results are not always immediate. However, compounded over years, I believe that making these small choices on a consistent basis leads to professional excellence and strong advocacy.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

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The best piece of advice I’ve received is that making small, ordinary choices consistently, and letting those choices compound over time, can lead to great out comes (provided you are making the right choices!). In a world where immediate gratification is just around the corner, consistently making the gritty choice with out any immediate results to show for it is hard. Luckily, the second-best piece of advice I’ve received–—to stop negotiating with myself once I’ve thought through a decision—helps me adhere to the first. I try to incor porate these words of wisdom on a daily basis in my career and my day-to-day life.

Family: My husband and two cats

What Does Career Advancement Mean?

I believe in having a fulfilling and satisfying career by simply following your heart. Armed with this belief, I started as a postdoctoral researcher at SLAC Nation al Accelerator Laboratory nine years ago. I worked tirelessly trying to find answers to the fundamental

Number of Employees: 1,600

What was your first job: Hosting painting classes for children

Favorite charity: Organizations that care about homeless animals and our national parks

my limits. I want to be excited about waking up every morning, looking forward to another exciting day at work, and solving another intriguing challenge. I am driven by challenging work, big and small, not so much by career advancement.

Industry: Research

Education: PhD, Uppsala University, Sweden

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Company CEO: Chi-Chang Kao

properties of materials. Then I became interested in improving my hands-on technical skills, so I started working in SLAC’s LCLS Technical Support Depart ment. Later, I was interested in X-ray optics, so I moved to the LCLS Engineering Department. All this time, I worked alongside friendly and intelligent peo ple who believed in me and trusted me with exciting jobEventually,opportunities.Iworked in many different technical

Words you live by: Actions speak louder than words.

May Ling Ng Head, Engineering Department

Company Headquarters Location: Menlo Park, California

Personal Philosophy: Always do my best to do the right thing.

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“

Company Name: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

areas, while gaining precious work experience and knowledge. Gradually, I became interested in helping and inspiring people. I was offered my current position, where I lead a diverse team of engineers. It is challeng ing work, but it is a challenge that motivates me to learn about people. It also inspires me to help them with their career goals. I would encourage my staff and others who want my advice to explore their passion, because working with something that motivates them is the key to success. The rest will fall into place, naturally.

Interests: Gardening, watercolor painting, and learning something new to challenge myself

I never considered myself ambitious when it came to my career goals or advancement, especially if it meant climbing the career ladder. If I were asked what I would like to become five years ago, I would not have imag ined myself in my current leadership and management position. Instead, I have always dreamed about working in a role where I can apply my skills and knowledge, where friendly and intelligent people surround me, and where I can be inspired to learn new things and push

I would encourage my staff and others who want my advice to explore their passion, because working with something that motivates them is the key to success. ”

What book are you reading: I en skog av sumak by Klas Östergren

Growing up, when I felt frustrated or stuck with bad options, my dad encouraged me to take a step back and remember that there are always options and choices in life. Nothing is set in stone.

Nicole Friedlander Partner

surprised me, because I thought he had achieved the pinnacle of success as a partner at a law firm, and I knew he was happy there.

What was your first job: Attorney at a law firm

Company CEO: Joseph C. Shenker, Senior Chair

Interests: Traveling

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Think about What Else Is Possible

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Number of Employees: More than 875 lawyers worldwide

He said, “You should always think about what else is possible.” It is important to explore new opportunities, whether or not you decide to pursue them. He told me that he always took calls from headhunters, which

Education: BA, University of Pennsylvania; JD, New York University School of Law

Industry: Law

Favorite charity: UNICEF

I applied for and was lucky to receive a position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It changed the course of my career, and I am so happy it did. As for the partner, he followed his own advice too. A few years after I left, he took a position at a Fortune 100 company, where he is now the CEO.

very much. After a few years, I was thinking of apply ing to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but I was reluctant to consider leaving the firm, where I felt comfortable and enjoyed the work. I discussed it with the partner, who espoused his own version of my father’s advice.

What book are you reading: Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

If you make a mistake, or the facts change, you can course-correct. And inevitably, at times you will want or have to, and great things can come from those changes.”

in the moment—which area should I practice in, should I take this job, how should we proceed in this case—is much easier to make when I remember that it’s not really final. If you make a mistake, or the facts change, you can course-correct. And inevitably, at times you will want or have to, and great things can come from thoseWhenchanges.Ibegan my career as an associate at a large firm, I was fortunate to work with a partner who I liked

It was a simple reminder, but it has been power ful for me. It helps me see problems and plan a path forward with more objectivity and perspective, and less stress. It has also helped me make and assess my career choices. A decision that may seem very consequential

Family: Husband and three kids, ages 12, 10, and 7

“

Company Name: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Favorite charity: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Scholarships

I’ve learned to seek out women who empower me, and we cheer for each other just as my mom and grand ma have done for me for 41 years. One of the most powerful experiences I’ve had is participating in an all female triathlon in El Paso. Every competitor cheered for the others as we passed. I reflected and thought that if we could just do this off the course every day, more of us would finish with greater success, and it would be far less lonely when we do cross the finish line.

This second part of my career has been and will be dedicated to empowering other women, especially my daughters, in every aspect of life—and to appreciating those male leaders who embrace a culture of shattering the glass ceiling and even enduring some cuts along the way.

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Vice President

Interests: Triathlons, running, and traveling

Dr. Andrea S. Tawney

Fear Is a Powerful Thing .

Words you live by: We measure success by how many are standing next to us.

Company CEO: Richard Lange, MD, MBA

Education: PhD, Texas Tech University

Company Name: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Industry: Higher Education

Company Headquarters Location: El Paso, Texas

What was your first job: Hostess at a restaurant

These are words that inspire me shared by well-known entrepreneur and music producer, Dr. Dre. The interest ing fact is that this is the intro to a rap song and the artist is a guy who grew up in Compton who started from the bottom and grew his success with a strong work ethic. The artist is the complete opposite from his mentor, aside from their mutual grit and unsurpassed work ethic. Still, his mentor took a chance on him and saw some thing that would flourish despite the many critics.

Family: Husband and two daughters, 10 and 4 years old

Number of Employees: 2,000

I play this nearly every day because work ethic is everything. I could have changed this to be gender inclusive, but this actually speaks volumes to the chal lenges women face in professional life. This statement could not be truer for women. I’ve always approached my career as having to prove myself by working longer hours and achieving more successful outcomes than my male counterparts.

were all male leaders who took me under their wing and saw something in me I didn’t know was present. I, too, was different from them in many ways, except for our mutual work ethic.

Fear has a lot of fire power. If you can figure out a way to wrestle that fear to push you from behind rather than stand in front of you, that’s very powerful. I’ve always felt I had to work harder than the next guy just to do as well as the next guy and to do better than the next guy I had to just kill it.

That’s not to say there weren’t females who support ed me along the way—my mom and grandma were my biggest fans and taught me the true meaning of hard work. There was nothing I couldn’t do in their eyes. But the reality is and was it gets lonely when you become a leader and one of few females in that space. I might have had more women giving me opportunities, but they had not arrived yet.

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Personal Philosophy: Wake up every day with a sense of purpose. What book are you reading: Wish I had time, goal for next year.

All that said, my biggest opportunities were not just created by my hard work, good luck, and blessings. In fact, the doors opened for me were opened by leaders who believed in me and gave me a shot. Actually, they

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

Work that fuels your passion

proud when former mentees share, “Amy was always enthusiastic and inspiring, and truly cared about my personal growth and development. She took the time to ensure that I had the tools and resourc es I needed to be successful, provided feedback on a consistent basis, and was always the first to congratulate me on my accomplishments. She has been an incredible mentor to me and played a large role in my success to date.”

To Boost Your Career, Look For the Factors that Truly Matter

Interests: Skiing, water activities, musical performances, and family time

Personal Philosophy: Accomplishments highlight your skills. Relationships reveal your value.

Favorite charity: Toni’s Kitchen, feeding those in need

I am deeply grateful to Profiles in Diversity Journal for this prestigious award.

The people you work with and learn from have a huge impact on your level of job satisfaction and engagement. When team members work well together, with a collab orative and supportive approach, everyone is able to achieve his or her goals and have a positive experience. Keep in touch with those great colleagues because op portunities to work with them will come around again.

Amy Lui Abel, PhD

What was your first job: Associate, J.P. Morgan

Another passion that fuels my work is the opportunity to coach and mentor young professionals who are at an early point in their careers. I have been privileged to mentor many colleagues, especially women. I strive to empower them, and develop their strengths and address their weaknesses in order to better meet challenges in theItworkplace.makesme

Number of Employees: 300

Words you live by: When we voice hope, we become hope.

I provide enthusiasm and inspiring leadership to organizations that need to shift from how we always did things to how we can facilitate a future environment of learning, growing, thinking—one that is client focused, productive, and fun!

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Vice President, Executive Programs

Education: PhD, New York University

Industry: Nonprofit Research Think Tank

Company CEO: Steve Odland

success. Employees today are at a critical inflection point, where skills, mindset, and ways of working are shifting dramatically. This is a difficult transition period. I want to help employees become the flexible, critical thinkers they need to be, so they can thrive and deliver on business goals.

Company Headquarters Location: New York, New York

Who you work with

Company Name: The Conference Board

Who you work for

I am passionate about transforming organizations with people challenges and strategically planning for future

What book are you reading: The Future of the Office: Work from Home, Remote Work, and the Hard Choices We All Face by Peter Cappelli

Everyone knows when your boss is great, your job/life is better. And when your boss is not great, your job/life can be hell. Spend time talking to the potential hiring manager. Be prepared to ask thoughtful questions around how work gets done, team culture, company culture, and expectations. If possible, ask team members the same type of questions to look for consistency. When you have experienced many bosses over different jobs, you know when you find a gem. Hold on to that gem for as long as possible.

As we are currently in the midst of a labor shortage and an “era of the employee,” many of us are looking to find new job opportunities. While money is always important to everyone, I would like to offer a suggestion to enhance your career long term—focus on the things that truly matter.

Nona Lee

Company Name: Truth DEI Consulting Industry: Speaker, author, and consultant

Words you live by: Give back more than you take.

At the beginning of my legal practice, I was often asked by white male opposing counsel to get them coffee when I entered a room based upon their assumption that I was support staff rather than a lawyer. I underwent job interviews where the interviewers asked inappropriate (and also, by the way, illegal) questions like, “Are you married?” or “Do you have children?” —I often wondered if my male counterparts got asked the same questions.

Personal Philosophy: Give back more than you take.

After several years, I was promoted to vice president and associate general counsel. Then, I asked for and was given the opportunity to start the legal department for the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team. I became the first vice president and general counsel. At the time, I was one of only three or four women to hold this position with a Major League Baseball club.

and made my passion and ultimate purpose clear:

I was determined to continue to climb. I achieved senior vice president and general counsel, then senior vice president and chief legal officer, and was finally promoted to executive vice president and chief legal officer.

I wanted to be in-house counsel for a pro sports team. I made the necessary changes to my career to stay my course and obtained a position as the first associate general counsel for the Phoenix Suns basketball team. This was my dream job!

From the earliest moments in my career, it was clear that if I wanted to accomplish my dreams I was going to have to prove myself. I am an openly gay black woman. These immutable characteristics that make me who I am have frequently made me the subject of both intentional and unintentional bias.

Number of Employees: 4

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Favorite charity: ACLU

How I Made My Passion My Business

In 2020, I chaired the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through D-backs for Change JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Council. This was a labor of love,

Founder/CEO

Education: Executive Education Certification in Leadership in Corporate Counsel, Harvard University; DEI Certification, Cornell University; JD summa cum laude, Oklahoma City University School of Law

Company Headquarters Location: Phoenix, Arizona

What was your first job: Law firm clerk

Interests: Social justice, movies, reading, and traveling Family: Wife (Andrea Martinez) and dogs, Jaz & Ripley

What book are you reading: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

I’ve worked in several different industries over the course of my career. I started my legal practice as a litigator at a firm in Phoenix, Arizona, and ultimately dreamt of merging my practice as an attorney with my passion for sports. I’d played sports at high levels my entire life, and I saw the power that inherently came with that kind of achievement.

These types of bias, often unintentional and wholly unconscious, have followed me throughout my entire career. The only way to change them is to acknowledge that we have them and to care about other people enough to do something about them. Helping people do that is my dream job now.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

What’s hidden in the depths of my story, are the mountains I had to move to make things happen for me. My goals and dreams did not just happen because of hard work and per sistence. Those are qualities I never lacked. I also never lacked skill, competency, or knowledge. However, with every climb, men were hired and promoted based on their potential, while I, like many other women, had to prove myself in order to move up, sometimes asked to first accomplish tasks that weren’t required of my male counterparts.

To work to balance the playing field and eliminate the ISMS from the workplace by effectuating authentic, systemic, and lasting organizational change with respect to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Company CEO: Nona Lee

Words you live by: Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Several years ago, in response to gender bias in the legal profession, Ulmer formed its Women in

Jennifer Lawry Adams

Throughout my career, I’ve observed many in stances of gender bias, including times when male partners, clients, or opposing counsel have treated me or my female colleagues, opposing counsel, or clients differently from our male colleagues. For exam ple, they often assume we are administrators, rather than attorneys, simply because of our gender; or they assume we are less committed to our profession be cause we are mothers. Unfortunately, for many women attorneys, this gender bias has made the practice of law unenjoyable and difficult. This bias causes some women to leave the legal profession all together.

Company Name: Ulmer & Berne LLP

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Company Headquarters Location: Cleveland, Ohio

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Number of Employees: 314

Education: BA, Georgetown University; JD, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Favorite charity: Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy

Family: My husband, Dan; children, Jack, Connor, and Katherine; and our dogs, Piper and Sandy

Personal Philosophy: Never give up.

Company CEO: Scott Kadish, Managing Partner

Putting Gender Bias in the Past

What book are you reading: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Law and Leadership (UB WILL) committee. I am proud to have served as the chair of UB WILL since 2014. UB Will focuses on the retention and promotion of the firm’s female attorneys, as well as on supporting and engaging with other female attorneys and clients. One of the primary goals of UB WILL is to empower our female associates, equip them with the tools they need to be successful attorneys, and clear a path for them to become partners and leaders in the firm, as well as to ensure that they know they are respected and that Ulmer does not tolerate bias against women or any other groups who have histori cally faced marginalization. UB WILL recognizes that a career for women in the private practice of law can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding, and we want to help our women attorneys reach their full Itpotential.ismysincere hope that as more and more wom en are given an opportunity to earn a seat at the table at Ulmer and other law firms, we will see the number of women partners and in leadership roles continue to increase until the discrepancies that result from gender bias are truly in the past. I look forward to working with all my colleagues at Ulmer toward this future.

Industry: Law

What was your first job: Babysitting

I have been practicing law at Ulmer & Berne LLP since I graduated from law school 26 years ago. Although women have consistently represented at least half of the law school graduates, when you look at the number of women who are law firm equity partners, in management roles in law firms or legal departments, or who serve as general counsel, discrepancies are evident. While there are several factors that explain these discrepancies, gender bias is clearly one of them.

Interests: Spending time with family, travel, reading, and sports (watching my kids play them, as well as watching college and professional sporting events)

Partner; Co-Group Leader, Health Care

I would like to thank Union Pacific for nominating me and Profiles in Diversity Journal for awarding me this prestigious honor. Receiving an award such as this makes you reflect on what shaped your career and personal life to get to this point. There are many people who have influenced my life along the way, and it has made me realize that my personal philosophy is that every experience, interaction, and relationship is teach ing you something. As I look back at all the different

and taught for 10 years. She married later in life and ended up being an amazing mother to four kids. Her path did not look like many of her peers, but she never looked back.

Words you live by: Never give up.

Interests: Being with family & friends, cooking, and traveling

Company CEO: Lance Fritz

Personal Philosophy: Everything happens in life to teach you something. What book are you reading: The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews

What was your first job: Babysitter

Grace Olsen General EngineeringDirector–Locomotive&Quality

Grandma never offered her opinions on your life choices, as she believed that you should make your own choices and have no regrets. She did not have to say it very often because she always led by example. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in teaching

Education: Bachelor of Science, industrial & operations engineering, University of Michigan

that everything in life is there to teach you something. You never know how something will help you in one week or one year.

jobs I have had, places I have lived, and friends I have made, I realize that they got me to where I am today. And ultimately, the person who taught me this at a very young age was my grandma.

When you can own the decisions in your life, you can make the best of them. You can focus on the positive outcomes. Hence, my personal philosophy that everything in life is there to teach you something.”

Her example made me fearless in always making my own choices and learning how to own those choices. When you can own the decisions in your life, you can make the best of them. You can focus on the positive outcomes. Hence, my personal philosophy

Favorite charity: Friend to Friend Network

Company Headquarters Location: Omaha, Nebraska

My grandma passed away this year at the age of 96. I feel so grateful that I was able to spend so much time with her and have her influence my life. I would like to dedicate this award to her, as I never told her how much her guidance gave me the courage to be who I was always meant to be.

Make Your Choices and Own Them

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Company Name: Union Pacific Railroad Industry: Transportation

“

Number of Employees: 32,000

Family: My husband, Gus, and baby on the way!

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Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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Education: Bachelor’s degree, politics & certificate, Afro-American Studies, Princeton University; JD, Georgetown University Law Center

What I have learned in my experiences, is that when we leave parts of ourselves behind to fit into a culture, we are leaving our magic behind, and that this culture we are so desperately trying to fit into is the lesser for it. If we do not speak about the barriers and inequities we face at the intersections of our identities, we lose the opportunity to make things better for our communities.

There is a history within the field of medicine of over estimating the pain tolerance of Black people. This often leads to us being misdiagnosed and without proper medical care. There is also a history of the health industry not believing women when they share their symptoms. You combine those prejudices and a Black woman’s life is at risk when she enters a hospital. For this reason, we must embrace all our identities and advocate for our selves and our communities.

Number of Employees: 3,900

Personal Philosophy: Strive to be the best version of yourself. You can always learn more and do better.

2 022 A W ARD Women Wor th Watching® in Leadership INTERNATIONAL

The Magic of Us

As women, we are constantly asked to choose one identity and to stick with that. I am an Afro-Latina, and growing up I did a fair amount of code switching to “fit in.” In my college days, if I wanted to advocate for Black rights, the perspectives of women were secondary to the cause. If I advocated for women’s rights, issues around race were made secondary, and I was asked to focus on women only. I couldn’t speak to the Latina experience, because I didn’t speak Spanish well and was seen as Black, not Panamanian. I didn’t have the words to de scribe my experience or how I walked through world until I came across the term intersectionality in law school.

Company CEO: Ira Robbins

Interests: Reading and movies

What book are you reading: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant

What was your first job: Cashier at a pharmacy

Company Name: Valley Bank Industry: Banking

Company Headquarters Location: Wayne, New Jersey

This silence can also have real implications on our health and safety. An example of this can be seen throughout the pandemic. In addition to being fearful that my husband and children would be hospitalized with COVID, as a Black woman, I was terrified of being hospitalized with COVID because I would have no one with me to advocate for me.

Words you live by: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” –Theodore Roosevelt

Favorite charity: Planned Parenthood and Southern Poverty Law Center

The term intersectionality was coined in 1989, by Professor Kimberle Crenshaw, to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics intersect and overlap. It speaks to the fact that a person does not have to choose one identity over another. In fact, it is the intersection of those identities that makes each of us who we are—the magic of us.

Tammy Garnes Mata

By telling the world who we are as leaders—the pieces that make us whole—we create space for our colleagues and teams to do the same. We also create a community that stands together for one another to make things better for all of us. It is not always easy to share our truths—it is an act of courage to make yourself vulnerable. Thus, it is important that we stand together in allyship, that we recognize the privilege we each have in different circumstances, and that we use our voices to amplify the experiences of others.

Family: I have a wonderful husband and two amazing kids. I am also to live close to my mom, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Like many mothers, I want my daughter to know she shouldn’t be afraid to express her opinion, to shine, or to be herself. I want her to know that when she’s sitting on a board, her contribution is just as valid as every one else’s in that room. I also want my 13-year-old son to know that strong women are not a threat, and that the best way for him to secure a bright future for his generation is to support the women and minorities in his life and in the world. He should know that the rising tide raises all boats, and the success of others will only increase his and society’s success.

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Personal Philosophy: Everyone is going through a struggle you know nothing about.

As a young real estate finance attorney—an area where there can be very few women—I was often selected to participate in pitch meetings or to serve on committees or boards where I was the only woman present. In such situations, people sometimes assume that we are there only to fill a quota—a false percep tion that can shake our self-confidence and cause us to minimize our contributions. As the mother of both a son and a daughter, I want upcoming generations to realize not only that they deserve their place in the room, but also that they should never feel the need to diminish their presence, regardless of how they got

Number of Employees: 1,200

Favorite charity: REAP Center in Oakland, California

Athere.fewmonths ago, my 12-year-old daughter told me that she intentionally lost a game of billiards to a boy, so he wouldn’t feel bad. Clearly, social media, and society generally, is still sending a message to girls that they will be more likeable if they don’t push too hard or upstage boys. My daughter is still a kid, but even women who are well established in their careers can feel a similar urge to downplay their abilities and defer to the men in the room. I once witnessed a friend—a rock-star partner—literally taking a back seat at a client meeting because, in her words, “I didn’t really think

Company Name: Venable LLP

Stephanie DeLong

Interests: Golf, singing, skiing, Wordle, and Waffle

they wanted to hear from me.” She relegated herself to the role of note taker, rather than sit with the decision makers.

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There is ample data to demonstrate that building diverse teams and embracing a range of viewpoints improves the overall sustainability of an organization and its ability to retain and attract talent. We need to nip the rumblings across the country that raising the voices of women and minorities will extinguish the voices of white men. As I am trying to teach my children, this is not a zero-sum game. We all benefit when everyone around us, regardless of gender or race, is empowered to succeed.

What was your first job: Newspaper carrier in San Francisco

Industry: Law

Partner Education: JD cum laude, George Washington University Law School; BA with distinction, University of California at Santa Barbara

Family: Son, Aidan (13); daughter, Bree (12); husband, Joe; and 2 cats, Taz and Stella

Company CEO: Stu Ingis

Words you live by: Do you want to be right or do you want to be effective?

What book are you reading: The Authority Gap: Why Women are still taken less seriously than men, and what we can do about it by Mary Ann Sieghart

This Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC

Stacy Stanslaski President

Favorite charity: At this time, I mostly donate my time to nonprofit organizations supporting my kids activities. I am treasurer of the high school football booster club. I also actively support Second Harvest Heartland. Corporately, we have created a sponsorship with the local Girl Scouts organization support their Power Girls program.

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Number of Employees: 775

the business. Had I not moved into HR, I would not fully appreciate how crucial the HR function is in shaping culture and driving optimal business results. By leading the most significant change in our organiza tion—a complete ERP system conversion—I developed critical change-management skills that make me a better leader.

What was your first job: Pool lifeguard

Though I don’t consider myself a role model, female colleagues have reminded me that my position in the company makes me one. Conscious of this fact, I work to give back to women in the organization. Whether I’m sponsoring a women’s employee resource group; speaking on a diversity, equity, and inclusion panel; mentoring; or pushing women in my company to articulate their ambitions, my goal is to raise the visibility of talented women and encourage them to help shape their own experiences. We can all accom plish so much when we embrace our curiosity and are open to new challenges.

Industry: Distribution

You Can Rise to the Challenge

My career was not defined by a linear ambition to reach the top. It was my openness to new opportuni ties, however unexpected, that shaped my experience.

I didn’t have my sights set on becoming the pres ident of Viking. But when I moved out of my comfort zone, the experience ignited a desire in me to be on the short list for the next great opportunity. Linear think ing can limit you. By thinking more broadly and leaving your comfort zone, you can unlock opportunities to grow and reach your fullest potential.

Interests: Yoga, golf, reading, and spending time with family

Company Headquarters Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Education: BS, accountancy, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Company Name: Viking Electric

What book are you reading: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

From HR, I moved into sales leadership, led a system conversion project and, ultimately, became president of Viking Electric in 2017. My comfort zone had been left far behind. However, I gained confidence in my abilities and leadership skills with each new challenge. In taking that first big leap out of finance/ accounting, I gained a new perspective regarding what I was capable of and a more holistic understanding of

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I graduated with a degree in accounting and after some time in public accounting, I spent the early part of my career at Viking Electric as the company’s controller. I felt very competent, accomplished, and comfortable in my role. But in 2008, the president and chief financial officer threw me a big curveball. An opportunity to lead our Human Resources team was open, and they wanted me to take it. My mind imme diately went to a negative space, listing all the reasons this was not the best idea. When I realized they were serious, I shifted to calculating what I needed to do to make this work for me, the team, and the compa ny. Being open to this opportunity—and those that followed—opened doors I wouldn’t have dreamed of knocking on.

Words you live by: We reserve the right to get smarter.

Family: Married to a very supportive husband, Joel; together, we have two sons, Reid (16) and Sam (19)

Company CEO: Stacy Stanslaski

Favorite charity: The WCP Foundation

Industry: Real Estate Financing

Company Headquarters Location: Falls Church, Virginia

I am passionate about seeing the impact we have in our communities through our daily work at Washington Capital Partners. I am proud that Washington Capital Partners is helping remove the stigma of the hard mon ey lending industry by adhering to the highest ethical standards in our business transactions and practices. I enjoy waking up every day knowing that we’re facilitat ing access for real estate investors to the capital needed to start and grow their businesses. We not only get to create new entrepreneurial opportunities for the inves tors, but every project we fund provides new jobs for contractors and skilled tradesmen—and women.

value the collective impact that we cre ate at Washington Capital Partners when, through The WCP Foundation, we can give to well-deserving and highly-impactful charities. We support initiatives and organizations that aim to create systemic changes, while addressing social and economic inequalities, such as im migration reform, racial inequality, economic empower ment, housing sustainability, and environmental causes.

Company CEO: Daniel Huertas

Interests: Yoga, tennis, and Formula 1

President

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Family: Husband and two sons

When I drive around a neighborhood and see how we contributed to the revitalization of the area, I see our work take shape. I like reflecting on the fact

What was your first job: Wrapping gifts at a toy store

I am especially passionate about our efforts to empower our women investors, in particular, provid ing access to resources that meet their unique lending needs. Being able to say that we play a key role in mak ing real estate transactions happen and helping their businesses grow is extremely rewarding, especially when we hear from our clients that we played a role in their being able to provide a better life and more opportuni ties for their families.

Your Location (if different from above): McLean, Virginia

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I Am Passionate about Making an Impact

I am so happy to be working with such a unique and talented team. I especially enjoy seeing team members start their careers with us and grow into management and leadership roles. Aside from their technical abilities, I am proud of being connected with them because they are great people with outstanding values who inspire me daily. I celebrate each time we hire a female team member in our male-dominated industry, and I rejoice even more when they get promoted internally. I am honored to work with our male colleagues, who support us women and empower us to reach the best version of ourselves.Iimmensely

Education: MBA, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; BA and MPH, Northeastern University

Company Name: Washington Capital Partners

Number of Employees: 63

Giselle Bonzi

that because of one project that we funded, there is a snowball effect of contractors being hired, local vendors being supported, and even neighborhood restaurants seeing more customers.

Words you live by: You can’t get blood out of a turnip.

Personal Philosophy: Don’t wish for it; work for it.

Words you live by: Every day provides a new chance to do better.

Personal Philosophy: Hard work, integrity, and dedication to family.

Interests: Instrumental music has been a lifelong hobby, and I continue to play the piano. I also enjoy reading and spending time with family.

Your Location (if different from above): Boston, Massachusetts

For me, the time apart during the pandemic has reinforced the importance of in-person interactions to establish connections, reinforce workplace culture, and best work collaboratively with our colleagues.

Partner; Chair, Intellectual Property Department

What was your first job: My first job ever was waitressing at a local restaurant. After graduating from college and law school, my first job was at WilmerHale, where I lead the Intellectual Property Department today.

Working through the pandemic has proved that more of us can work flexibly and virtually to a much greater extent than we did before. Maintaining some of this flexibility may afford opportunities to advance

Favorite charity: One favorite organization is Project Citizenship, which assists eligible individuals in applying for U.S. citizenship, seeking to increase the naturalization rate in New England, with a focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. I have found volunteering for citizenship clinics and related efforts by Project Citizenship very rewarding.

Family: I have a wonderful family, including my husband, two teenage sons, and a supportive extended family.

Although I did not know it when I began pursuing a career in patent law, only about 20 percent of regis tered patent attorneys are women. While patent law and commercial litigation are male-dominated fields, I have been lucky to have many strong women mentors and role models since the earliest days of my career in patent law and intellectual property litigation. This helped give me the confidence to pursue a career at the intersection of technology and the law, and eventually grow into a leadership role at my firm.

What book are you reading: I have been reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Learning about people with different backgrounds and experiences has always been fascinating to me.

Company CEO: Susan Murley & Robert Novick, Co-Managing Partners

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC & Boston, Massachusetts

Number of Employees: 1,892

diversity in the legal profession by allowing a wider range of individuals to pursue careers and leadership opportunities in ways more compatible with their lives outside the office. However, the possibility of virtual workplaces also presents chal lenges for leaders and institutions attempting to maintain the cohesion of their teams and the integrity of their cultures.

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I was able to do this not just due to hard work, dedication, and sponsorship by others in my organiza tion, but also by pursuing flexible work options (including parental leaves and periods of working reduced hours) that allowed me to progress my career while being present for my growing family. I believe that seeking work-life balance while trying to “have it all” is one challenge (of many) that impacts diversity in the legal profession.

Company Name: WilmerHale

There continues to be room for growth in diversity, including gender diversity, in the legal profession. I hope that the lessons we have learned from recent challenges will allow us to support a more diverse range of professionals—not just those starting out in legal jobs, but those building long-term careers and growing into leadership roles. I would urge newer lawyers to interact collaboratively with their colleagues and seek out mentors, role models, and sponsors who can share experiences and help promote and guide their career development.

Emily R. Whelan

Industry: Law

Will Workplace Flexibility Advance Diversity?

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Education: JD, Harvard Law School; AB, chemistry, Cornell University

Words you live by: To whom much is given, much will be required. –Luke 12:48

to them. Whether it’s learning about their children, favorite past time, background, or the struggles they are facing, I find that it’s all valuable. It allows me to be more thoughtful in our interactions, whether I’m asking about something they previously mentioned or recog nizing the need to be flexible on an assignment dead line because of a personal issue someone is facing. It facilitates deeper connections that lead to positive working relationships, and often, friendships.

Partner

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Industry: Law

I’m constantly learning things about people who have different backgrounds from myself and always find myself wanting to know more. Although I’m sure I don’t always get it right, I am often sought out for a listening ear and told how much people trust me and appreciate that I genuinely care. I’m sometimes sur prised by how much of a positive impact this has on my relationships, but it’s clear to me that taking this advice to heart has truly made me a better leader. I know the people I work with well enough to know who needs positive reinforcement, who needs to be challenged, and who needs to feel inspired, and I take my best shot at responding accordingly. I hope this approach has led to a better working environment for my teams. It has certainly been a big plus for me.

What was your first job: A busser in a restaurant at the age of 14

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Your Location (if different from above): Washington, DC

I have received a lot of great advice in my life and over the course of my career, but one of the most im pactful pieces of advice I’ve received is to “listen more than I speak.” This can sometimes be a challenge for a chatty person like me, but something I’ve worked hard at over the years. Following this advice has proven quite useful in all aspects of my life, especially in playing a leadership role in my career.

Sometimes it’s not all about work at all. It’s about learning things about people’s lives that are important

Number of Employees: 1,892

April N. Williams

Education: JD, Howard University School of Law; BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Actively listening and being curious about what the other person has to say often leads me to learn something from the discussion, and it makes the other person feel heard and valued. We all have diverse backgrounds and varying viewpoints and approaches to tackling an issue, and I have found that making my teams feel comfortable speaking up and genuinely listening to them sometimes reveals a solution to an issue that I might not have considered. A junior asso ciate recently raised his hand to flag an issue I had not thought of, and we ultimately changed how we re sponded to a matter based on his sound observation. It saved us time on the backend, and I’m sure it made him feel heard and appreciated.

Company CEO: Susan Murley & Robert Novick, Co-Managing Partners

What book are you reading: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC & Boston, Massachusetts

Favorite charity: Neighborhood Legal Services Program

Personal Philosophy: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Interests: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, and photography

Listen More Than You Speak

Company Name: WilmerHale

I’m so lucky to have been blessed with such amazing women as role models and with a dad that knows how to guide a daughter over career obstacles. Today, I am blessed with the best “whys” a woman can have: my husband and two amazing sons!

Words you live by: Trust and believe.

Company Name: WilsonHCG

I also learned a lot from my dad—he’s one of the most resilient and loyal people I know. He taught me to be the person that shows up no matter what and that it’s more important to show up for the bad days than the good ones. I fondly tell him he is the best dad-mom out there since he had to raise two head strong daughters by himself, which wasn’t easy through our teenage years!

Company Headquarters Location: Tampa, Florida

Interests: Advocating for the immune compromised community, supporting our veterans and military spouses, gardening, and being the best mom I can be

I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve, but I do wear it on a gold necklace, with the words I live by boldly etched in block letters: TRUST AND BELIEVE. The neck lace and the words were gifts from my mother, Virginia “Ginny” Price, when I was 17 years old. At that age, I had already learned some tough life lessons as the result of personal health issues, the loss of my grandmother to Parkinson’s disease, the loss of my young aunt, and finally, my mother’s battle and subsequent passing from breast cancer.

Family: I have a husband, two teenage sons, and two dogs!

making an impact on not just WilsonHCG’s hiring prac tices, talent and culture, but that of our clients too.

To all the women in leadership and rising through the ranks, TRUST in yourself and BELIEVE that while the climb can be hard, you are enough.

Education: Bachelor of Science, marketing, Clemson University.

Your Location (if different from above): Greenville, South Carolina

Favorite charity: The Immune Deficiency Foundation and the Humane Society

Number of Employees: 2,000+

Personal Philosophy: Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Company CEO: John Wilson

My mother in her infinite wisdom knew I needed those words. She wanted me to not see life’s hardships as crosses to bear, but as things to make me stronger. She wanted me to trust and believe in my strength, grit, faith, family, and friends, while leaning into all the good ness this world has to offer. It’s because of her, and the other wonderful women in my life, that I am who I am today. I work each and every day to make them proud.

Industry: Human Resources

What was your first job: Babysitting; my first W2 job was being on the neighborhood pool concession stand when I was 14 years old.

Jennifer Koss

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What book are you reading: Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Vice President–Talent Operations, NAM

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All were passionate and caring women that always advocated for the people in their lives, whether family, friends, co-workers, students, or just someone need ing help. It is because of them, and the examples they set, that I love helping people. When talent acquisition found me about eight years into my career, it fit like a glove. Today, as a VP of Talent Operations at Wilson HCG, I love developing diverse teams and leaders while

I want to thank Profiles in Diversity Journal for this very special recognition and for the opportunity to rec ognize all the people who have supported me—my suc cess is because of them: Virginia Price, Gregory Price, Caitlin Price, Mary Jane Seibert, Judith Price, Thomas Price, Judy Kash, Jane Seibert, Judy Velho, Peggy Baurkot, Nancy Fullagar, Josephine Keyes and, last but not least, my “whys” Robert, Brody, and Holden Koss.

The Words I Live By

The Best Things in Life

Company Name: Withum Industry: Professional services

This has come true in so many instances here at Withum. When I first began my career, my first job out of college was as a staff accountant at the firm. While growing through promotions, new projects, acquisitions,

What book are you reading: People Strategy by Jack Altman

What was your first job: First job out of school was being an accountant at Withum.

Partner and Chief Talent Officer

Personal Philosophy: Be bold, and have big dreams.

Interests: Family, sports, traveling, and volunteering

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asset, our talent. In this role, I have been able to grow my team to over 30 talent, recruiting, human resources, and inclusion and diversity professionals to enhance the team-member experience. The advice I mentioned at the beginning of this essay has led to some of the best things in my life, including most recently, breaking the glass ceiling by being the first woman on the firm’s

Company CEO: Bill Hagaman

Through the continued application of the Withum Way, the last 25 years of my career have allowed me to develop professionally and personally, and pass my knowledge and share my experience with my mentees. ”

and leadership changes, I had the chance to network and build relationships for business development, joined the board of a not-for-profit, became a mentor, and even took on a new career path.

Number of Employees: 1,800

Family: Married, with 3 children and one doggie

Company Headquarters Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Favorite charity: Folds of Honor

Education: BS, accounting, Rider University; Master’s degree, human resources management and services, Rutgers University

I have been told that the best things in life come when you have an open mind and are both excited and nervous.

Words you live by: Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.

Theresa Richardson, CPA

management committee.

I truly appreciate all the opportunities Withum has afforded me to succeed at home and work. Through the continued application of the Withum Way, the last 25 years of my career have allowed me to develop professionally and personally, and pass my knowledge and share my experience with my mentees.

In 2016, after years of servicing clients, I became the firm’s first chief talent officer. This switch of respon sibilities allowed me to oversee Withum’s number-one

“

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From everyone at PDJ, we would like to congratulate all of this year’s Women Worth Watching® in Leadership award winners! We truly appreciate your hard work and dedication to the advancement of women in business. Let’s keep working to make the “glass ceiling” a thing of the past.

Where are they now...

Over more than two decades, Profiles in Diversity Journal® has recognized more than 2,000 Women Worth Watching® in the pages of our magazine. In this issue, we catch up with 12 more past Award recipients, who have since been promoted, started their own companies, taken on new roles, or moved into entirely new fields of endeavor. Like all of our Women Worth Watch ing Award winners, they are dynamic leaders, who welcome challenges, embrace change, and share their knowledge and wisdom with the next generation of women. Read on, and see where their professional journeys have taken them.

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Abundis earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at University of California–Fresno. She also attended Pacific Coast Banking School.

Susan Abundis Director, Public Companies

Previously, Abundis held the position of chief operating officer for CHS Clinic Services at California Health Sciences University. Earlier in her career she held several leadership roles at Bank of the West, including managing director, and served as senior vice president with Bank of America.

Susan Abundis, recognized as a Woman Worth Watching in 2013, these days serves as a director for several public companies.

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Where are they now...

Founder, Gladys Ato International, Inc.

A 2013 Woman Worth Watching, Gladys Ato recently founded Gladys Ato International, Inc. an online education platform focused on personal development, emotional intelligence, change leadership, and navigating grief and loss.

Gladys Ato

Prior to striking out on her own, Ato spent many years in higher education, holding both teaching and leadership positions, including president and provost of The National Hispanic University and vice president of academic affairs at Argosy University. Ato is also the author of a book titled, The Good Goodbye: How to Navigate Change and Loss in Life, Love, and Work.

Where are they now...

2013

Ato holds a Doctor of Psychology degree, as well as a Master of Science degree, in psy chology from Baylor University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at University of California–San Diego.

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Sandra Botcher, a 2013 Woman Worth Watching Award recipient, today serves as managing partner of Northwestern Mutual of Southern Wisconsin, where she leads a talented team of financial advisors and staff.

Managing Partner, Northwestern Mutual

Prior to taking on her current role, Botcher held several leadership positions with Northwestern Mutual, including three vice presidencies, as well as serving as assis tant general counsel. Earlier in her career, she taught English and math to junior high school students.

Botcher earned her Doctor of Law degree at University of Minnesota Law School, and her bachelor’s degree in English and math at Winona State University.

Sandra Botcher

2013

Where are they now...

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Susan MacKenty Brady CEO, The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Brady holds an M.Ed.in educational leadership from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in business communications from Marietta College.

2013

Where are they now...

Previously, Brady served as executive vice president at Linkage, Inc., as well as president and CEO of The Relational Life Institute. Earlier, she held leadership positions with Vantage Partners and Babson College Executive Education.

Susan Brady, recognized as a Woman Worth Watching in 2013, was named, first, the managing director, and then CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership in 2019.

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Marilyn Devoe President, MD AIR Solutions

A 2014 Woman Worth Watching Award recipient, Marilyn Devoe became president of MD AIR Solutions in 2016.

Where are they now...

Prior to joining MD AIR Solutions, Devoe was with American Airlines for 13 years, most recently as vice president–Miami International Airport. Previously, she served as vice president with American Airlines for DFW International Airport, as well as vice president of Airline Policies and Procedures. .

Devoe holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Rhode Island, where she graduated summa cum laude.

2014

Jennifer LoBianco

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Previously, LoBianco served as chief marketing officer for Huntington Learn ing Center and for American Financial Resources. She was cofounder and chief strategic officer of 8fold, an award-winning national marketing firm. Earlier in her career, she held various marketing, advertising, and client-strategy positions.

Where are they now...

LoBianco holds an MBA from Seton Hall and a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey.

2014

Senior Vice President of Marketing, Best Life Brands

Named a 2014 Woman Worth Watching, Jennifer LoBianco recently joined Best Life Brands as the company’s senior vice president of marketing..

CFO & COO, Mobility Solutions Group, Cox Automotive Inc.

Named a Women Worth Watching in 2014, Jennifer Bedard is now the CFO and COO of Cox Automotive’s Mobility Solutions Group—she is also a founding member of the Group.

Where are they now...

2014

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Previously, Bedard served as vice president of strategic analysis and integration and vice president of business operations and finance at Cox. Earlier in her career, she was senior manager of sales and marketing finance for McKesson and senior manager of reporting, planning, and analysis for Verizon.

Bedard earned her MBA in finance from Auburn University, a Masters of Accountancy from Mercer University, and a bachelor’s degree in international business and foreign language from Auburn University.

Jennifer Bedard

Fong holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University.

Serena Fong

Previously, Fong spent nearly 16 years with Catalyst, where she served most recently as vice president of strategic engagement, and earlier, as director of communications and public affairs. Earlier in her career, she worked in television production roles at Court TV and MSNBC.

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2014

Serena Fong, a 2014 Woman Worth Watching Award recipient, recent ly joined The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research as vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion partnerships.

Where are they now...

Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Partnerships, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Where are they now...

O’Neill earned her AB in international affairs/Spanish from Sweet Briar College, and her M.Pub.Affs from the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. She also attended American University.

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Before joining Corning, O’Neill served as executive vice president and chief external affairs officer at Alcoa. During her almost eight years with Alcoa, she also held the positions of senior vice president of global government affairs and sustainability, as well as vice president of government affairs and trade policy.

Vice President, Government Global Affairs, Corning Incorporated

2015

Michelle O’Neill, a 2015 Woman Worth Watching, recently been named vice president of government global affairs for Corning Incorporated.

Michelle O’Neill

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Lexi Alexander

Previously, Alexander served as senior vice president of business develop ment for ASRC Federal and for L3 Technologies. Earlier in her career, she held the position of vice president of defense and intelligence business development at Serco.Alexander holds a master’s degree in national security policy studies from The George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Denison University.

Vice President, Strategy, Peraton

Where are they now...

Named a Woman Worth Watching in 2015, Lexi Alexander recently joined Peraton, where she leads corporate digital transformation strategy in her role as vice president of strategy.

2015

Jeanne Finegan Managing Director and Head of Kroll Notice Media, Kroll

Previously, Finegan held leadership positions at Prime Clerk, Heffler Media LLC, The Garden City Group, Inc., and Poorman-Douglas Corporation. She was also founder of Huntington Communications, an Internet development company, and a partner in both Huntington Communications and The Huntington Group, Inc. (a public relations firm).

Finegan is accredited in public relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America and the Canadian Public Relations Society.

2015

Where are they now...

Jeanne Finegan, a 2015 Women Worth Watching, is now managing director and head of Kroll Notice Media, Kroll.

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2015

Where are they now...

Jill Surdek

Regional Director, Amazon Logistics, Amazon

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A 2015 Woman Worth Watching Award recipient, Jill Surdek very recently joined Amazon as regional director of Amazon Logistics.

Before making the move to Amazon, Surdek spent 14 years with American Airlines. Her most recent role was senior vice president of operations–flight service. During her tenure with American Airlines, she held several increasingly responsible leadership positions related to sales, marketing, branding, and customer experience.

Surdek holds an MBA in marketing/marketing management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English from Boston College.

148 2022 Third Quarter www.diversityjournal.com AARP.....................................................................................................................................................................................4, 48 Activision Blizzard..................................................................................................................................................................................49 Advanced Micro Systems..........................................................................................................................................8, 50, 51, 52 African Leadership University, Rwanda..................................................................................................................................................36 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP...................................................................................................................................27, 28, 53, 54 Ally EnchantedEHEEDGEDentaQuest.....................................................................................................................DeltaCoxCorningCooperCohenCo/LABCapitalBrownsteinBestBestBDOBayerAxinn..........................................................................................................................ArrowheadAnkura.........................................................................................................................Amazon.........................................................................................................................Financial..........................................................................................................................................................................................40......................................................................147..........................................................................55Consulting...........................................................................................................................................................................56...........................................................................57US................................................................................................................................................................................................58USA,LLP........................................................................................................................................................................................59Best&KriegerLLP.........................................................................................................................................................................42LifeBrands...................................................................................................................................................................................141HyattFarberSchreck.....................................................................................................................................................27,30Electric(aSoneparcompany)....................................................................................................................................................60Lending....................................................................................................................................................................................61ZifferFrenchman&McKennaLLP...............................................................................................................................................62Electric(aSoneparcompany)...................................................................................................................................................63Incorporated..........................................................................................................................................................................144AutomotiveInc.............................................................................................................................................................................142Dental..........................................................................................................................................................................................64................................................................65,66Strategy.......................................................................................................................................................................................33Health............................................................................................................................................................................................67RockElectricLLC.................................................................................................................................................................68 Frantz Ward..........................................................................................................................................................................6, 69 Freddie Mac..............................................................................................................................................................................13 Freeborn & Peters Google.........................................................................................................................GlennGladysGibbonsGEIGalderma...............................................................................................................................................................................................71LLP...........................................................................................................................................................................70Consultants,Inc........................................................................................................................................................................72,73P.C...........................................................................................................................................................................................74AtoInternational,Inc...............................................................................................................................................................137AgreBergman&FuentesLLP.....................................................................................................................................................75.........................................................................76 Greenberg Traurig LLP.....................................................................................................................................................7, 77, 78 Herrick Feinstein LLP..............................................................................................................................................................................79 Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP.........................................................................................................................................10, 80 Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.................................................................................................................................................................81 Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP....................................................................................................................................................................82 Idaho National Laboratory..................................................................................................................................3, 83, 84, 85, 86 Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP..............................................................................................................................................................87 88 Keller Postman LLC...............................................................................................................................................................................89 Korn Ferry..............................................................................................................................................................................................90 CORPORATE INDEX

149www.womenworthwatching.com 2022 Third Quarter BOLD DENOTES ADVERTISER BLUE PAGE NUMBER OF AD Kroll..............................................................................................................................................................................91, 92, 93, 94, 146 Latham & Watkins LLP......................................................................................................................................................................95, 96 LegalEase Solutions Inc.........................................................................................................................................................................97 Lincoln Financial Group.........................................................................................................................................................9, 98 Marshall, Gerstein and Borun LLP..........................................................................................................................................................99 Mayer Brown LLP..................................................................................................................................................................................100 MD AIR NewNelsonMossMillbankMicrosoft.............................................................................................................................................................................................101Solutions.................................................................................................................................................................................140LLP...........................................................................................................................................................................................42AdamsLLP..................................................................................................................................................................................102MullinsRiley&ScarboroughLLP..............................................................................................................................................103AmericanFunding.......................................................................................................................................................................104 New York Life Insurance Company..........................................................................Inside Front Cover, 22, 25, 105, Back Cover Northwestern Mutual...........................................................................................................................................................................138 Olivia Peraton................................................................................................................................................................................................145PartnershipOracleOPTrust................................................................................................................................................................................................107DePiore.....................................................................................................................................................................................106Corporation...............................................................................................................................................................................20forInclusionLeadership....................................................................................................................................................108 RBC Wealth Management.................................................................................................................................................11, 109 Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP.....................................................................................................................................110 Renasant SLACSewardSanfordSandiaSaint-GobainBank.....................................................................................................................................................................................111NorthAmerica...............................................................................................................................................................112NationalLaboratories......................................................................................................................................................113,114HeislerSharp,LLP...........................................................................................................................................................115,116&KisselLLP.............................................................................................................................................................................117NationalAcceleratorLaboratory................................................................................................................................................118 Sonepar..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.......................................................................................................................................................................119 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso........................................................................................................................120 The Conference Board.........................................................................................................................................................................121 The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research....................................................................................................................143 The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership.................................................................................................................139 Truth DEI Consulting...........................................................................................................................................................................122 Ulmer & Berne LLP...............................................................................................................................................................................123 Union Pacific Railroad..........................................................................................................................................................................124 Valley Bank........................................................................................................................................................................................... 125 Venable LLP..........................................................................................................................................................................................126 Viking Electric (a Sonepar company)....................................................................................................................................................127 Washington Capital Partners..........................................................................................................................................................43, 128 WilmerHale..................................................................................................................................................................................129, Withum..........................................................................................................................................................................................13,WilsonHCG..........................................................................................................................................................................................131130132

Our diversity of experiences makes for the best, most innovative teams. New York Life is proud of our richly diverse culture built on a foundation of inclusion. To learn more about our commitment, visit: newyorklife.com/diversity © 2022 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY New York Life is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity AR11135.082022 TM