FOUNDATION BREAKFAST WOMEN IN MOTION:
DYNAMIC CHANGEMAKERS IN TECHNOLOGY & HEALTHCARE Presented by
Title Sponsor
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
FOUNDATION
BREAKFAST
A WORD FROM DEAN MILLER, PACT Welcome to the PACT Foundation Breakfast! I am thrilled to extend my warmest greetings to each of you as we embark on a morning dedicated to celebrating the game-changing women in the dynamic realms of technology and healthcare right here in Philadelphia. Today, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable strides made by these visionary leaders, whose impact extends far beyond industry boundaries. Their innovative spirit and dedication inspire us all to envision a future of boundless possibilities. I express heartfelt gratitude to our event sponsors whose unwavering support makes this gathering possible. Your commitment to fostering equity, access, and inclusivity in the tech and healthcare sectors is truly commendable. Together, let's embrace the transformative power of collaboration and illuminate a brighter path forward. Warm regards, Dean Miller President and CEO, PACT
STAY CONNECTED with entrepreneurs, investors, professional advisors, startups in all stages, enterprise companies, and more across the PACT network by becoming a member + gaining access to: Content + thought leadership Elevation of your mission + brand Curated connections + mentorship
www.philadelphiapact.com/pact-membership
FOUNDATION
BREAKFAST
AGENDA 8:00 - 8:30am
Registration opens
8:30 – 8:35am
Welcome remarks
8:35 – 9:30am
Expert panel & Q&A
Grab breakfast, check out sponsor exhibits, and connect with other attendees!
Dean Miller, President & CEO, PACT
Moderator: Danae Mobley, CEO, Coded By Kids Panelists: Sushma Akunuru, Senior Vice President, Independence Blue Cross Michelle Histand, Managing Director, Temple University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute Joan Lau, CEO, Spirovant Sciences, Inc. Tiffanie Standard, Founder & CEO, Stimulus, Inc.
9:30 – 9:55am
Presenting companies
9:55 – 10:00am
Closing remarks
Morgan Berman, Founder, Glitter Elaine Haynes, President & CEO, KaloCyte, Inc. Madhu Stemmermann, CEO, Sunray Scientific, LLC Dr. Tia Lyles Williams, CEO, Goffman Bougard, Inc Yasmine Mustafa, CEO and Co-Founder, Roar
Dean Miller, President & CEO, PACT
10:00 – 10:30am
Networking & company exhibits Continue to look at sponsor exhibits and connect with our speakers, presenters, and other attendees!
OUR PANEL DANAE MOBLEY CEO Coded By Kids Moderator
Danae Mobley has a wealth of experience in the fields of education, technology, sustainability and design. Danae began their career in 2006 as a Corps Member for Teach For America, where they instructed fifth and sixth grade ESL students and was recognized as a Highly Qualified Instructor. In 2010, Mobley took on the role of Program Manager at Coopers Ferry Partnership. From 2011-2014, they were an Urban Planning Consultant for Sci-Tek Consultants, Inc., where they developed prioritization strategies for Philadelphia Water’s $2.5 billion, 25-year green stormwater infrastructure program. During this time, Mobley also served as a Lecturer for PennDesign City & Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, where they facilitated a first-year planning studio and taught a variety of planning topics. In 2018, Mobley became the Chief Marketing Officer at Coded by Kids. Most recently in 2019, they founded and became the CEO of Populum, a digital strategy agency that seeks to amplify meaningful, people-centered work. In 2021, Mobley was appointed Chief Operating Officer at Coded by Kids and in 2024, they transitioned to the CEO role.
SUSHMA AKUNURU
Senior Vice President, Business Technology Services Independence Blue Cross Sushma Akunuru is senior vice president of Business Technology Services at Independence Blue Cross (Independence). She is responsible for solutions that meet emerging market demands, improve efficiencies, and strengthen the company’s security posture as well as aligning the company’s technology, application, and security teams. Ms. Akunuru is a champion of women in leadership and technology and brings more than a decade of experience in financial services and IT-related functions. She serves on the boards of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies digital transformation advisory board. As chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association CIO Roundtable, she engages in active innovation conversations with other Chief Information Officers. She spearheads the Women in Technology and Analytics event designed to encourage careers in technology at Independence and shares her expertise with the Wharton Health Care Business Conference. She strongly encourages young people to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by mentoring and tutoring robotics in her community. Ms. Akunuru received her MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in computer applications from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India.
OUR PANEL MICHELLE HISTAND
Managing Director Temple University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute Michelle Histand is an experienced leader, teacher, and connector. Driven by a passion for changing how people think and work, she takes pride in connecting the dots, motivating teams, and improving outcomes. Michelle is the Executive Director of the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, where she works with global nonprofit leaders who are using innovative practices to change their communities and combat poverty and injustice. She is also the Managing Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute at Temple University, where she works with the Temple community to develop new mindsets and business ideas. Michelle has led citywide projects with partners in city government and organizations across Philadelphia. She served as Executive Director of B. PHL Innovation Festival, a three-day festival designed to showcase innovation in Philadelphia that she co-founded in 2019, and as the Deputy Director for Ready.Set.Philly!, a collaborative effort between business leaders, the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, and the city to restore Philadelphia’s economy post-COVID. Michelle built her expertise in innovation after launching and running the Innovation Department at Independence Blue Cross for ten years. She has worked with companies of all sizes in developing new processes, products, and organizational design. She earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and her master’s degree in writing from Saint Joseph’s University. She’s a proud Philadelphia native, where she resides with her three kids, three cats, and one husband.
JOAN LAU
CEO Spirovant Sciences Joan Lau is Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia-based biotech Spirovant Sciences. She co-founded the company (then called Talee Bio), envisioning the potential for gene therapy for patients with inherited respiratory diseases. Under her leadership, Spirovant gained the support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and was honored as PACT Healthcare Startup of the Year. Spirovant was acquired twice in 2019, once as part of a $3 billion transaction with Sumitomo Pharma. Dr. Lau co-founded and is partner with Militia Hill Ventures, a firm focused on forming and growing life sciences companies. Previously she held roles as COO of Immunome (IMNM); President and CEO of Azelon Pharmaceuticals; and President and CEO of Locus Pharmaceuticals, a computational chemistry discovery company. VELEXBRU® was discovered & developed at Locus under her leadership. Dr. Lau began her career at Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Lau has been recognized for her entrepreneurial accomplishments and leadership in the biotechnology industry and within the Philadelphia and social justice non-profit communities. She serves on the board for the Philadelphia Orchestra & Kimmel Center; the Penn School of Social Policy and Practice; Brandywine Realty Trust; and Rockwell Medical, Inc. She is an Adjunct Professor at Penn in the Wharton Healthcare Management Program. Previously she served as national board chair, Human Rights Campaign Foundation (DC). She was selected as the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Philadelphia Region; a 2020 Woman of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal; and the 2021 Iris Newman Award recipient from the Alliance for Women Entrepreneurs. Dr. Lau earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a BSE in Bioengineering, both at the University of Pennsylvania; and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
TIFFANIE STANDARD Founder & CEO Stimulus, Inc.
Tiffanie Stanard, a seasoned professional and corporate advisor, transitioned from an executive in vendor management to become an award-winning entrepreneur with two decades of expertise working with vendors and suppliers for some of the largest publicly traded companies. Stanard is the CEO & Founder of Stimulus, a VC-backed technology company. The Stimulus AI-powered relationship intelligence platform combines data insights, relationship-building tools, and a proprietary score to help companies make the best purchasing decisions while optimizing and growing their supplier network. Throughout her career, Tiffanie has been hired to consult with influential global brands including Microsoft, Salesforce, AT&T, Intuit, and other organizations. Stanard is a recipient of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Rising Star and Diversity in Business Awards, Walker’s Legacy’s Women in Economic Development Award, and the Philadelphia Tribune’s 10 under 40 Most Influential African Americans Award. Tiffanie has been recognized by Forbes in the Next 1000 Leaders List and she was named as one of the 10 Business Leaders Transforming Supply Chain by Business Insider, among many more honors. Based in Philadelphia, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. Beyond her professional pursuits, she has actively contributed to her community by serving on boards and committees for numerous organizations including Love Now Media, Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies and others.
FEATURED COMPANIES
FOUNDATION
BREAKFAST
ABOUT THE PACT FOUNDATION PACT’s 501(c)(3) charity that provides financial support to STEM-based community initiatives and to underrepresented groups in high-growth technology and life science entrepreneurship. The following organizations will benefit from today’s event: Coded by Kids Coded by Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on preparing underrepresented people for leadership roles within the tech and startup space through education programs, resources, and support. Our vision is to be the springboard for the underrepresented leaders of the world’s most impactful tech companies.
www.codedbykids.com Philadelphia Equity Alliance The Philadelphia Equity Alliance drives equitable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth in Philadelphia. By partnering with businesses, labor, clergy, civic organizations and governments, the Alliance advances solutions that help close the racial wealth gap by growing minorityowned businesses, increasing and improving minority employment and pushing for pay equity. The Philadelphia Equity Alliance also works to achieve health equity, reduce gun violence, improve educational opportunities, promote the Black and Latinx arts and entertainment community, and ensure government programs prioritize equity and inclusivity.
www.philadelphiaequityalliance.org/
UPCOMING PACT EVENTS Balancing the Scales: Exploring Diverse Perspectives on AI Regulation and Governance March 15, 2024 - CBIZ Join an insightful discussion on AI regulation, balancing innovation, safety, ethics, and accountability. Engage with experts from different sectors and regions for a dialogue on AI governance and navigating its complexities. Part of the Powered by Phorum - SaaS Series
Enterprise Awards May 21, 2024 - Springfield Country Club The Enterprise Awards remain the region's most prestigious business honors for technology and life sciences companies, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Attracting prominent business leaders, the Enterprise Awards celebrates achievement, innovation, and success in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Phorum Technology Conference April 30, 2024 - Live! Casino & Hotel Connect with industry leaders, explore AI challenges, and seize networking opportunities. Join us for a day of thought leadership and innovation on emerging technologies. Don't miss out on new business prospects!
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