2023 Top 100 Women Executives

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Karen Blackett

WPP, UK President

WPP

Karen is a proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams, and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is UK President for WPP, the world’s largest marketing services group and responsible for driving growth in WPP’s second largest market of 12,000 people. Karen is dedicated to advancing women's careers. She is the Executive Sponsor of Stella, a WPP Employee Resource Group supporting women's opportunities and gender diversity. She also launched Elevate, a programme for high-potential Black female employees. Karen champions WPP's Propeller programme, fostering diverse leadership pipelines with 2,633 participants across 71 countries. It has resulted in 33 promotions to CEO-level roles in four years. As CEO of Mediacom, Karen also elevated women in senior management to 44%. Karen is a single to a beautiful teenage boy, Isaac. The daughter of 2 Bajan parents, Karen regularly returns to her spiritual "home" Barbados and spends her weekends enjoying the outdoors and walking her two adorable dogs Bob Marley and Missy Elliot.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen

CEO

Entain

Jette Nygaard-Andersen is the CEO of Entain, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the organization. Under her leadership, a diverse ExCo was formed, and she spearheaded initiatives like Reboot@Ivy, empowering women returning to work in technology roles. She brokered a returnship program with McLaren, reigniting careers for women in STEM. Jette also launched the Women@Entain network, fostering inclusion for women colleagues. Committed to promoting women in STEM, Jette partnered with Girls Who Code and established technology scholarships with global universities. Recognized as one of the "25 People to Watch" by Global Gaming Business Magazine, she advocates for positive industry change, emphasizing the significance of diversity and encouraging women in STEM careers. As a personal and professional supporter of Global Gaming Women, Jette actively mentors senior women, highlighting the importance of mutual business support.

Michele Wee

CEO

Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam

Michele’s organization has 70% female representation with 45% in leadership roles. As chair of the Vietnam’s people’s agenda, the focus on DEI, Wellness, CSR and New Ways of Working resonates across the organization of 1,550 employees with ~30 events throughout the year. Michele is senior sponsor of SCB’s global coaching program – IGNITE that target mid-level female leaders. The program has coached 1,165 senior females (35.8% of total female population) across 45 countries. She also pioneered the MOU signing with State Bank to implement gender equity across banking sector, contributing to overall financial market success. For the Vietnamese community, SCB’s commitment of female empowerment through various local partner NGO’s, Chambers of Commerce and vendors impact ethnic minority students to executive/ entrepreneurs providing thought leadership, toolkits and financial education that augments female participation in society and business. Michele is Top 100 women in Fintech 2022 and Heroes for the 3rd consecutive year. She is featured on Vietnam National TV Channel for Hero Women award – promoting women development journey.

Megan Clarken

Chief Executive Officer

Criteo

Megan Clarken is the Chief Executive Officer at Criteo, the global commerce media company. Since joining in 2019, Megan has been instrumental in Criteo’s transformation. Today, the company operates a robust Commerce Media Platform that connects 22,000 marketers and thousands of media owners to deliver richer consumer experiences. Prior to Criteo, Megan served as Chief Commercial Officer of Nielsen Global Media, where she spent over 15 years in a variety of roles leading initiatives that allowed the 90+-year-old company to adapt and prevail in a time of change. Before she was dubbed one of the “most important figures in media” by Adweek, Megan was an Olympic class athlete, using her perseverance and resilience to pivot into a successful career in technology. With vast awards under her belt, Megan continues to be recognized for her ability to transform businesses, while championing underrepresented groups in media.

Teresa Ko

Hong Kong Senior Partner

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Teresa has been a staunch advocate for gender diversity for over a decade. As the first female to chair the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s Listing Committee, Teresa has been a leading voice on greater board gender diversity in Hong Kong. Teresa is known for her commitment to clients and believes in using her position as a trusted advisor to encourage systemic change. She is dedicated to developing Freshfields colleagues, both professionally and personally to maximize their potential. As executive sponsor of Freshfield’s Asia Women's Network, Teresa mentors and sponsors female associates, helping them to hone their business development skills, connecting them to key contacts, and nurturing them to become future leaders. She is also a strong advocate for ISSB’s global baseline sustainability standard as trustee and co-vice chair of the IFRS Foundation, and believes that individual as well as collective efforts count. She was named in IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2022 - an elite ranking for the most prominent women lawyers globally and in Forbes’ ‘Asia's Power Businesswomen’ list 2021.

Helen Mets

President and CEO

Ahlstrom

Helen Mets has been the President and CEO of Ahlstrom since January 2023, previously serving in executive leadership roles at DSM, Pon and Avery Dennison. She strongly advocates for diversity and inclusion, championing women's leadership through balanced teams and fostering a culture of inclusivity. Helen is responsible for setting the company strategy and places strong emphasis on diversity, inclusion and sustainability, and has doubled employee engagement in her first six months as CEO. She sponsors Ahlstrom's NICE program (Nurturing, Inclusive, Collaborative, and Equal), where she personally mentors future women leaders in navigating their leadership journeys. Helen also served as an executive sponsor for DSM's I&D strategy and was a member of the Advisory Council WIN Global. Helen also advocates for equal opportunity, and is a sought-after public speaker, using her experiences to inspire others. Her inclusive purpose-led and performance-driven leadership has been recognized through the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Leading Women Award.

Debra Crew

Chief Executive Officer

Diageo

Debra Crew was appointed Chief Executive Officer at Diageo in June 2023, making history as the company's first woman CEO in its 25-year existence. The firm has continued to make strides in accelerating gender equality within its business, with the company receiving high acclaim in 2023 for its gender equality efforts including ranking #1 for women’s representation at board level in the FTSE Women's Leaders Review and #2 global and #1 U.K. ranking in Equileap's Equality Global Report. Over the past year, the firm has also launched several progressive policies and employee initiatives that further its commitment to empowering women. The company launched Pregnancy Loss Guidelines across 34 markets, as well as Fertility Support Guidelines in the UK, complementing its existing policies and guidelines such as Parental Leave and ‘Thriving through Menopause’. Under Debra’s leadership, Diageo is committed to being a champion of Inclusion and Diversity across everything it does.

Jill Schnarr

Chief Social Innovation, Communications and Brand Officer

TELUS

Jill, Chief Social Innovation, Communications, and Brand Officer at TELUS, is a driving force behind diversity and inclusion initiatives. As a founding Connections member, the TELUS women's network, she empowers over 6,000 women and allies with mentoring and networking opportunities. Her commitment to diversity reflects in her leadership team, where 75% are women. Jill also launched the TELUS CHLOE Awards, honoring women leaders, and achieved 40% women’s representation on the executive team and 45% on the board. Passionate about social impact, Jill established the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, investing $100M in companies led by women, Indigenous, and racialized founders. Beyond TELUS, Jill speaks at events and supports organizations like the Prosperity Project. Jill's initiatives address mental health, support Indigenous women, and combat violence against women and children. Her dedication fosters meaningful change and empowers communities

Martina Cheung

President, S&P Global Ratings

S&P Global

Martina Cheung is the President of S&P Global Ratings and Executive Sponsor for ESG at S&P Global. As Executive Sponsor of WINS (Women's Initiative for Networking and Success), she advocates for equity and inclusion, providing support and sponsorship opportunities for women across regions the company’s global workforce. With over 7,000 members and 23 chapters worldwide, WINS focuses on industry-specific networking, skill-building, and impactful mentorship programs. Furthermore, as the first woman of color Asian woman to hold the position of President at S&P Global Ratings, Martina models diverse leadership leads with excellence. She received the Women's Bond Club Merit Award and is a prominent speaker at global forums and events, including the World Economic Forum at Davos and Politico Women Rule. Martina also champions gender diversity research on gender diversity through the S&P Global Diversity in the Markets Research Lab, to raise awareness of the progress being made as well as the challenges on the path to gender equality in the workplace.

Nilema Bhakta-Jones

Group General Counsel

Kantar

In just two years, Nilema built one of the most diverse teams in Kantar, expanding the global team and increasing ethnic, female and LGBTQ+ representation including 13 women, 9 of colour in her London team alone. Working with Multiverse, Obelisk, Accutrainee and Flex Legal, Nilema is breaking down barriers of privilege in the legal industry by working with women founded businesses whilst providing opportunities to trainees and paralegals from varied socio-economic backgrounds to enter the profession. Kantar joined the Interlaw Diversity forum to ensure transparency in DEI reporting among law firms. Beyond her professional role, Nilema founded the Courageous Leaders Event, donating ticket fees to support marginalised girls in Zimbabwe to access education. She also serves as a Board Adviser for Empathy Week, a startup that teaches empathy in school children to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Through mentorship and advocacy, Nilema works to impact others' lives positively.

Hanneke Smits

Global Head

BNY Mellon Investment Management

Hanneke Smits is the Global Head of BNY Mellon Investment Management. A strong advocate for inclusivity at BNY Mellon and beyond, Hanneke takes every opportunity to share her insights and guidance with employees. Within the industry at large, Hanneke serves as Global Chair of the 30% Club, expanding the campaign's international reach and aiming for gender parity in the boardrooms and C-Suite. Her leadership at BNY Mellon IM prompted one of the most significant independent global studies, "Pathway to Inclusive Investment," examining gender differences in investment attitudes, aiming to improve the engagement of women with the financial industry and developing partnerships with organizations like Inspiring Girls International. Hanneke has been widely acknowledged as an industry leader, most recently recognized by Financial News' as one of the “20 Most Influential in Fund Management”, and by LGBT Great as one of their 2023 “Top 50 Executive Allies.”

Serpil Timuray

CEO Europe Cluster and Member of Group Executive Committee

Vodafone Group

Serpil Timuray is the CEO of Europe Cluster at Vodafone Group since October 2018 and a member of the Group Executive Committee since January 2014. She also oversees Vodafone’s interest in joint ventures in Netherlands, Australia and India and is responsible for Vodafone’s Partner Markets in 48 countries. Since 2013, Serpil has chaired Vodafone’s global Inclusion for All Committee, which leads a pioneering agenda to improve diversity and inclusion. Serpil has championed the development and launch of specific apps and services to support women – such as the domestic violence app, and drove a target of connecting an additional 20 million women in Africa. In March 2020, Serpil launched Vodafone's #ChangeTheFace initiative which led to the creation of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance, bringing leading global tech companies and organisations together to collaborate on accelerating diversity and equality. In February 2022, Serpil received the Diversity In Tech Outstanding Achievement Award at Mobile World Congress.

Reshma Kewalramani

CEO and President

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

As CEO, Reshma leads Vertex’s mission of investing in scientific innovation to transform the lives of people with serious diseases — like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes and more. Under Reshma’s leadership, Vertex fosters a strong culture of inclusion, diversity and equity and supports four thriving employee resource networks that strengthen community and belonging for women, racially and ethnically diverse employees, LGBTQ+ employees, and veterans and first responders. Reshma works to make careers in science, technology and biopharma approachable to more people. She implemented a skills-based approach to hiring, removing academic degree requirements where appropriate — to make jobs accessible to anyone with the relevant skills. Reshma is also passionate about supporting biomedical innovation, the next generation of scientists, and her community. Outside of Vertex, she serves on the Boards of Year Up and the Biomedical Science Careers Program, organizations committed to closing the opportunity gap for women and underrepresented groups.

Laura Jordan Bambach

Former President & CCO

Grey London

Laura Jordan Bambach is the President and Chief Creative Officer at Grey London. At Grey, she introduced a charter that promotes greater equity, inclusion, and representation in clients' organizations, helping to foster positive change in the advertising industry. Laura's commitment goes beyond her role at Grey, and as the Founder of SheSays, Laura empowers women in the creative sector, with over 90,000 members across 55 cities. She also launched The WEI, a personal development plan for women mid-career, and OKO, a mentoring app for underprivileged young adults. She actively supports DEIR initiatives with WACL and mentors rising star women in the industry. Laura advocates for gender parity through events like Funny Women and IAA Creativity4Better. Moreover, as a Jury President at Eurobest 2022 and Film Juror at Clio 2023, she continues to make a significant impact in the creative world.

Brenda Tsai

Global Chief Marketing Officer

State Street Corporation

Brenda Tsai is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at State Street Corporation. She is passionate about advancing diversity in business and is an executive sponsor of State Street's Asian Professionals Alliance Community, empowering Asian American employees with resources for personal growth and professional development. She collaborated with Ascend on the "The Other Side" campaign, highlighting challenges faced by AAPI professionals in corporate America. As an executive member of Ascend Leadership, Brenda supported over 60,000 business professionals and in 2023 was named an Ascend A-List honoree for her achievements and leadership. Outside of State Street, Brenda participates in leading business and industry associations, advocating for diversity and inclusion, where she is a driving force in marketing, diversity, and leadership.

Beth Ann Kaminkow

Global CEO, VMLY&R COMMERCE and NY CEO, VMLY&R

VMLY&R

Beth Ann serves as Global CEO, VMLY&R COMMERCE and NY CEO, VMLY&R. She has led company and cultural transformation, bringing together world-leading capability and talent to provide unmatched expertise for clients including The Coca-Cola Company, SC Johnson, Mazda, General Mills and more, at a time of unprecedented global growth in Commerce. Her belief that Commerce holds the most untapped creative potential to grow brands and people has led to delivery of new and innovative creative commerce experiences that harness data and technology to build brands and sell products across channels. Her experience spans all areas of retail, brand, sales, and marketing, as a founding member of a successful startup purchased by Omnicom, Global CMO of Westfield Corp, CEO for Kantar Consulting Americas, and the first female CEO at TracyLocke during its one-hundred-year history. She is an AdAge Women to Watch, has judged the D&ADs, EFFIEs, and, in 2022, was Cannes Lions Jury President for the newly launched Creative Commerce jury.

Marjorie Dickman

Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer

BlackBerry Limited

Marjorie joined BlackBerry in 2020 as a corporate officer and the company's first Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer, making her one of the few female Global Government Affairs/Public Policy C-suite leaders worldwide. As the top advisor to BlackBerry's Executive Chairman and CEO on worldwide government affairs and technical standards decisions, Marjorie role models gender diversity and women's inclusion across the company. She endeavors to ensure that all voices and perspectives are considered in corporate decision making, and remains steadfast in her commitment to mentoring women across the technology and government affairs sectors. Her multi-decade history of advocating for and mentoring the next generation of women leaders and promoting STEM education and careers for women, has inspired an entire cohort of women (and men) at BlackBerry, who have joined Marjorie in promoting gender diversity and women's inclusion throughout the company and beyond.

Lindsey McMurray

CEO

Pollen Street Capital

Lindsey McMurray is Pollen Street Capital's CEO and a member of the ESG Committee leading on DEI. The ESG Committee launched a DEI and Engagement Survey and formed a working group with the Chief People Officer to drive the diversity agenda. Moreover, challenging traditional recruitment biases, Lindsey ensured over 50% of new hires in the past year were women. Under her management, Pollen Street sponsors Level20 to enhance gender diversity in Private Equity and fosters social mobility, with 66% of the team educated in state schools. Through her work with CIFE, Lindsey promotes investing in women entrepreneurs, contributing to guidelines on Diversity and Inclusion in the investment industry. Her dedication earned her recognition, including the FT Adviser Diversity Champion of the Year and the Trailblazer Award at the Women's Private Equity Summit Europe. Lindsey strives to share her experiences and ethos in a male-dominated industry to drive meaningful change.

Lisa Paley

President, North America

Haleon

Lisa Paley is the President, North America at Haleon. Committed to achieving gender parity in leadership roles by 2030, she has driven gender equity in her U.S. leadership team, with over half of her direct reports being women. Lisa also actively mentors and sponsors young women, supporting their career growth and promoting flexibility. As the Executive Sponsor of the U.S. DEI Council, Lisa leads a cross-functional team to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at Haleon. Additionally, she was crucial in championing the CHPA Diversity Initiative, promoting inclusivity, and supporting diverse talent in the consumer health industry. Outside of work, Lisa is a board member of WE, an organization focused on expanding women's voices in health and wellness. Her dedication to advancing women in the workplace has garnered significant media attention, highlighting the importance of building an inclusive business model where women can grow and thrive as critical drivers of business performance.

Marlene Olsavsky

SVP International Higher Education

Pearson PLC

Marlene Olsavsky has been the SVP of International Higher Education at Pearson PLC and previously the Executive Sponsor of Pearson's Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) group. Marlene empowers women, encourages dialogue on well-being, and advocates for gender equality. She also supports professional development initiatives and mentorship programs for women's advancement in leadership roles. She serves as Executive Sponsor for Pearson's Truth & Reconciliation Committee in Canada, where she fosters meaningful conversations and integrates Indigenous perspectives in literature. Beyond Pearson and as Chair of the Canadian Publishers Council, Marlene established a DE&I plan. She initiated partnerships, including scholarships for Indigenous students and the Doors Open Publishing event, promoting inclusivity in the industry. Her dedication to diversity and equity drives transformative change in education and publishing.

Alisha Alaimo

President of Biogen, North America

Biogen

Alisha is responsible for developing the strategy and driving growth for Biogen’s North America Organization. Over her 25-year career, her focus on creating a diverse and inspiring culture—where people achieve more than they thought possible—has consistently led to strong business results in organizations up to $7B in annual revenue. Alisha serves as Executive Sponsor for Women's Impact Network, an employee resource group designed to create opportunities for empowerment and advancement. At Biogen, she created programs to accelerate the readiness and visibility of mid-level women and non-white people for senior roles. As a board member of The Biogen Foundation, she advocates for supporting access next generation of leaders in underserved communities. Her career spans a wide spectrum of global leadership roles where she has led major acquisitions, strategic partnerships, restructurings, and the commercialization of breakthrough therapies for cardiovascular, Alzheimer’s, postpartum depression, multiple sclerosis, ALS, rare diseases and more.

Caroline Frankum

Global CEO, Kantar Profiles

Kantar

Kantar is a world-leading market research agency shaping the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. As a Global CEO, and part of Kantar's Executive Team and I&D Steering Committee, Caroline is committed to developing a culture and society that embraces all intersections of diversity. She holds herself accountable to increasing female representation and ensuring senior roles in Kantar achieve gender parity by 2025 by being an authentic ‘see it, be it’ role model, sponsor, and mentor to Kantar’s ~12,000 women across the globe. Caroline also serves as Global Executive Sponsor and Ally for Kantar’s Pride Employee Resource Group supporting 700+ LGBTQIA+ employees and partnering with DIVA Media and Stonewall to drive better awareness and understanding of unique challenges LGBTQIA+ women, transgender women, and non-binary people face. She is also a founding member of Chief UK, the $1.1b private network supporting and driving more women into positions of power.

Rachel Higham

Global CIO

WPP

Through a complete redesign and relentless focus on equality through our recruitment process, Rachel improved the female intake into the WPP IT organization from 11% to 38% over the past 12 months. Through the firm's operating and organizational model redesign and by establishing a new people design authority to govern internal and external appointments, she has improved the representation of women in the top 3 layers of leadership in WPP IT. Before joining WPP, she was the founder and executive sponsor of the multi-award-winning TechWomen program in her previous job. During her final year leading the program in 2020/1, Rachel delivered a year-long development journey for 450 women across BT and supported an alumni network of 2,300 women. The program was enormously successful, dramatically improving participants' confidence, with 67% of them moving into more prominent roles, and addressing the local cultural barriers to women's progression in India and Malaysia.

Erin Platts

CEO

HSBC Innovation Banking UK

Erin is a strong advocate for gender equity and is passionate about shining a light on the diversity challenges that the innovation ecosystem faces – she is also committed to help solving them. Under Erin’s leadership HSBC Innovation Banking UK has increased its proportion of women in senior leadership to 38%. This has been achieved in part by taking a laser-like focus to senior leadership hiring, where in 2022, 50% of all new senior leaders joining the bank were women. Erin sponsors ‘ChangeUp’, a disruptive leadership development programme for high-potential women aspiring into senior leadership roles. She has spoken at numerous industry events on gender diversity and mentors and sponsors multiple women, internally and externally. Erin's ambition is to increase the number of women and other overlooked talent in the innovation ecosystem and to create an environment where all people can thrive and bring their authentic selves to work.

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos

Co-founder, President and COO

Flag Luxury

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos is an accomplished developer of luxury hotels and land-based retail entertainment projects. She is known for her exceptional leadership and visionary approach to real estate development. As the co-founder and President/COO of Flag Luxury Group, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of luxury hotels, boutique hotels, and retail development in prominent cities such as Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, and New York City. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Dayssi has consistently pushed boundaries and set new standards in the industry. Her keen eye for identifying untapped potential and transforming spaces into extraordinary destinations has garnered widespread acclaim. Beyond her professional achievements, Dayssi is also the Co-Founder of the Woman's Day Power Breakfast, a groundbreaking initiative celebrating women in business. Together with her daughter Sophia Kanavos, she has created a platform to empower and inspire women from all walks of life.

Stefany Bello

Senior Vice President- Digital Partnerships, Retail and Commerce

MasterCard

Stefany Bello is the Senior Vice President of Digital Partnerships, Retail, and Commerce for Mastercard Latin America, where she mentors more than 25 women and actively engages with the company’s Women Leadership Network through internal and external speaking engagements. Passionate about women's education in technology, she supported the launch of "The Belle Block," empowering women and non-binary individuals in Web3 technology and crypto. Beyond Mastercard, she serves on the board of CodeArt, supporting young girls in STEM. Stefany also was a crucial mentor in the Mastercard's Start Path Empodera program, supporting women startups in the fintech and commerce sectors across the Andean region. Recognized for her leadership, Stefany was also selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, named one of the top women in Web3 across Latin America by Crypto Conexiones, and received the Top Rising Talent in the U.S. award from the Women's Forum.

Paola Garbini

European Head of Marketing

Oliver Wyman

Paola, European Head of Marketing at Oliver Wyman, spearheads mentoring initiatives within and outside the company, supporting colleagues and young talent in their professional journey across different geographies. She also actively participates in Oliver Wyman's Refugee Hiring Program, promoting opportunities for refugees in the marketing department. Externally, Paola is the visionary Founder of the NOI Club, an international community of over 4,000 women across 30 countries dedicated to connecting and uplifting women in business, where she curates impactful initiatives, including virtual sessions and partnerships, empowering women to exchange skills and achieve their goals. Paola's commitment extends to academia, where she co-founded Her Innovation Collective with the University of Warwick, empowering young women students through workshops and mentorship. Moreover, as a founding member of Brussels Binder Beyond, she advocates for women experts, contributing to innovative toolkits and empowering women's voices on a larger scale.

Sue Unerman

Chief Transformation Officer & Global Head of Relevance

EssenceMediacomX

Sue has been involved in a number of major initiatives to drive greater gender diversity and equality at EssenceMediacomX, and EM including, sponsorship of the Women’s ERG; the Belonging Council. The author of two best-selling books on diversity at work: “Belonging, the key to transforming and maintaining diversity, equality and inclusion at work”; “The Glass Wall, success strategies for women at work and businesses that mean business”. In September 2022 she spoke at United Nations General Assembly week in NYC on the role that media can play in making the world a better place for women and girls. Sue is a fellow of the IPA, and is one of the ilist, inclusion champions for the industry. She blogs for Campaign magazine, where she champions inclusion. She won the Cannes Lions 2022 creativity for good competition for a campaign designed to deliver gender equality for business startups.

Yvonne Garcia

Chief of Staff to State Street Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Head of Global CEO Experience Program

State Street Corporation

Yvonne sits on State Street’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ID&E) Council and is an active leader of local and national communities. In addition to her work for State Street, Yvonne is the Chair of the Association of Latino Professionals for Advancement (ALPFA) Advisory Board, and the Executive Director of Small Business Strong, a coalition of leading firms in Massachusetts supporting over 3,000 women and minority-owned businesses impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn. Yvonne is also the co-founding Chair of Milagros para Niños, a board at Children’s Hospital in Boston, which has raised more than $20 million in funds for Hispanic children who cannot afford medical care. In addition, Yvonne was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to serve on the state’s Latino Empowerment Commission Board. Most recently, Yvonne was appointed to the Board of Directors of Reading Cooperative Bank and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

Carmen Bodden

Vice President and General Manager, CertainTeed Roofing

Saint-Gobain North America

Carmen is Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Roofing at Saint-Gobain North America and is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion within the manufacturing and construction industries. Her team exemplifies her leadership within the organization, where women hold multiple vital roles. Carmen also serves as the Executive Advisor of the company's Women's Network, championing initiatives that empower women. She mentors women colleagues and collaborates with organizations like the Manufacturing Institute's Women Make America program to foster a pipeline of women talent. Passionate about her field, Carmen takes leadership roles outside her company, contributing to the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) organization and its Philadelphia Chapter. She promotes women's advancement through events, education, and advocacy, contributing to the DEI committee to drive nationwide change. As a speaker at trade shows like the International Roofing Expo, Carmen also facilitates discussions on the value of women in the roofing industry.

Tamara Box

Former Managing Partner, EME

Reed Smith

Tamara Box is a partner and immediate past (July 2023) Managing Partner, EME at Reed Smith LLP. Tamara is a non-executive director on the Boards of Interpath Advisory and Hanover Investors, a Trustee of Chartered Management Institute and Chair CMI Women, a trustee of gynaecological cancer charity Eve Appeal, an Advisory Board member of charity Theirworld, an Advisory Board member of LSE’s The Inclusion Initiative and a founding member of the Steering Committee of 30% Club. Tamara has twice been named a Financial News “50 Most influential Lawyers” (2022, 2023) and was Law Firm Leader of the Year – Large Law Firm at Women and Diversity in Law Awards, 2023. Tamara is a passionate advocate for the women at Reed Smith and for gender balance generally. Several women Tamara has nominated have been shortlisted/ winners of female leadership awards from Rising Star, Women of the Future and Asian Women of Achievement.

Efe Ukala

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

JP Morgan

Efe is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JP Morgan. In addition to her role as in-house counsel, she’s involved in the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts that have resulted in hiring and retaining diverse talents. Her passion for inclusiveness transcends her day job. Efe is also the Founder of ImpactHER, a non-profit that cultivates environments within which African female-led small businesses not only survive but thrive. Under her leadership, ImpactHER has provided pro bono business advisory support and directly trained over 76,100 African women entrepreneurs from 53 African countries, connected them with investors, and converted 39,444 non-technologically enabled businesses to technologically enabled businesses. Her work helped African women-led businesses from permanent shutdown during the COVID pandemic, and is actively changing the narrative of disenfranchised female business owners on the Continent; allowing women to crash through glass ceilings and re-define the face of successful entrepreneurs in Africa.

Marian Salzman

Senior Vice President Global Communications

Philip Morris International

A veteran communicator and trendspotter, Marian makes smart use of her global platform to advance positive change. Through regular bylines, interviews, and keynote addresses, she advocates for the equitable advancement of women. A member of the PRWeek Hall of Femme and Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, she has been honored with AWNY/She Runs It’s Changing the Game Award and has served on the board of directors of Venture for America. Within Philip Morris International, Marian promotes change through two employee resource groups: EMBRACE Global (focused on racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity) and the Women’s Inspiration Network (WIN). Her latest book, The New Megatrends: Seeing Clearly in the Age of Disruption (Penguin Random House, 2022), examines changing gender mores and the role female leaders can play in addressing critical societal issues.

Eliza Casinather

Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

TMX Group

Eliza is an internationally recognized and award-winning leader known for her experience in strategic consulting, digital innovation, and human capital management across technology, retail banking and capital markets. She has influenced financial services organizations in driving revenue and business results through authentic leadership, inclusive talent management and innovative client experiences that strengthen these organizations’ commitment to diversity and inclusion. To further champion change within Canadian Capital Markets, Eliza, formerly Director, People and Culture, CIBC Capital Markets, took on the role of Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the TMX Group, an integrated, multi-asset class exchange group which includes the Toronto Stock Exchange. Eliza currently serves on the CARE Canada Board of Directors, advises the Canadian Paralympic Games Human Resources Committee, and actively partners with Women in Capital Markets. Her influence also extends beyond Canada's borders to supporting young women in sub-saharan Africa and minority entrepreneurs in Australia.

Nilhan Onal Gökçetekin

CEO

Hepsiburada

Nilhan, CEO of Hepsiburada, is a transformative leader who fosters diversity, empowerment, and innovation. She started her career as an entrepreneur in the textile industry at the age of 17. Then with a 25-year career, including roles at P&G and Amazon, Nilhan has championed gender equality and women's entrepreneurship. At Hepsiburada, she's led groundbreaking initiatives to uplift women within the organization and the e-commerce ecosystem. Under her guidance, Hepsiburada established the Hepsinspire platform, promoting mentorship and career development for women colleagues. She's shattered the glass ceiling, elevating women to executive positions, and cultivated a balanced hierarchy. Nilhan's commitment to well-being programs, flexible work schemes, and training initiatives highlight her focus on holistic growth. Her visionary leadership enabled the Technology Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs program, impacting thousands of women and raising the share of women merchants in Hepsiburada's Marketplace. Additionally, she's driving significant social impact through a post-earthquake program, supporting SMEs, tradespeople, and women entrepreneurs. Throughout her career, she took part in numerous tech and women related forums as a founder or a member.

Deborah Diamond Morandin

Global CEO & Global Diamond Wing & Author

Entrepreneurs Paradise Pty Ltd & Diamond Empire Global

Deborah, the Global CEO & Global Diamond Wing of Entrepreneurs Paradise Pty Ltd based in Australia, is a visionary leader committed to empowerment and inclusion. Over the last twenty years, Deborah's passion for promoting women's DEI has led her to create "YOUniversal-Inclusion-Mentoring," a groundbreaking strategy that decodes life and fortifies businesses by embracing diverse perspectives. She also convened Diamond-Power Summits, empowering thousands of women, and facilitated The Butterfly-Experience Alumni Group, elevating 10,000 women. Her philanthropic endeavors include preserving pristine forests in South Africa and establishing education, skills training, and healthcare initiatives for local communities. Deborah has shared her insights on "YOUniversal inclusion" and "Shine Bright Like A Diamond" at prestigious events globally, including those hosted by Sir Richard Branson. Deborah inspires and uplifts countless individuals through her curated world trips filled with unique opportunities and Diamond mentoring. Getting the message out through media campaigns, mentorship, and published work with her book Shine Bright Like a Diamond.

Anne Erni

Chief People Officer

Audible

Anne Erni is the Chief People Officer at Audible where she leads the People and Places team, which comprises Human Resources, Workplace Real Estate and Facilities, and Newark neighborhood-making. Anne has consistently partnered with the CEO to drive diversity in the leadership team, including reaching 55% female representation in the executive team in 2021. Thanks to Anne’s work to intentionally grow women into leadership roles, the proportion of women at VP level and above has risen by 11 percentage points from 2020 to 2021. As well as informing the creation of a D&I strategy which includes targeted, bespoke plans for each business, Anne encouraged the formation of formal affinity groups, renamed ‘Impact’ groups, with one key aim being to increase diverse representation in Audible's content offerings. Anne is an internationally recognized thought leader on workplace innovation and a champion for equitable hiring and professional development practices.

Dimitra Manis

EVP, Chief Purpose Officer

S&P Global

Dimitra, Executive Vice President and Chief Purpose Officer for S&P Global, leads the People, Marketing, Communications, Corporate Responsibility, and DEI functions for 35,000+ colleagues. Dimitra is a trailblazer and fierce advocate who is focused on creating a people first experience at S&P Global through global initiatives and benefits including: 26 weeks of paid parental leave for all parents, unlimited bereavement leave, career coaching, fertility coverage, and cancer and menopause support. Under her leadership, S&P Global has been recognized by Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index, Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces, and other prestigious awards. She serves on a public board, as well as the S&P Global Foundation, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (an S&P Global and CME Group joint venture) and chairs the Nominating and Compensation Committee of the BritishAmerican Business Association and the Advisory Committee for the World Wellbeing Movement.

Mei Chen

Vice President and GM International - Alibaba Group; Board Member and Chair of Investment Committee - Innovo Group

Alibaba Group; Innovo Group

Mei Chen is the Vice President and GM International at Alibaba Group and Board Member and Chair of the Investment Committee at Innovo Group, where she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering talent and empowering underrepresented groups. Mei has mentored and sponsored numerous junior staff members of Chinese backgrounds in the U.K. and China. She has spearheaded initiatives like 'Women@Alibaba,' a program that has created a supportive network for women leaders within Alibaba Group across the globe. Through her leadership, Mei has organized mentoring programs, industry dinners, and initiatives aimed at addressing gender disparities and championing the underprivileged and LGBTQ+ communities. Acknowledged with the Alibaba Outstanding Female Leader Award, Mei's dedication to equality and inclusion is exemplary. She has shared her story and insights at top industry events and academic institutions (INSEAD, LBS, HBS), leaving an indelible mark on the tech and business landscape. She was recently named in 'Inspiring Fifty Winner 2021' - an elite ranking for the most prominent trailblazing women in tech, and 'Drapers’ Power 100 2022'.

Caroline Farberger

Board professional in Financial services, Investor, G7 Advisor, Keynote speaker

Wellstreet

Caroline, Board professional, Investor and Keynote speaker, has championed DEI initiatives across a vast sphere of influence. As an experienced CEO, in both large corporations and startup environments, Caroline has dedicated herself to ESG and DEI, leading training sessions for executive teams and large company audiences. Her efforts have ensured that these companies embrace DEI practices as an integral part of their organizational culture. Her unique experience of having worked both as a male and female CEO gives her the great advantage to offer inspirational, powerful and engaging keynotes. Her thought-provoking insights and expertise have resulted in over 100 speaking engagements, including significant conferences across Europe and the U.S. Caroline's dedication to promoting diversity has earned her recognition and accolades. She has received the Swedish LGBTQ Person of the Year Award, the Danish Womenomics Leadership Award, and the Swedish Kerstin Hesselgren Award.

Lisa Quest

Head of UK & Ireland

Oliver Wyman

Lisa Quest is committed to using her leadership platform to drive system and culture change from within to serve all. As UK&I market leader Lisa championed the introduction of our Sustainable Performance framework which enables conversations about work-life balance whilst delivering great client impact. As Co-Head of Public Sector Europe, Lisa has built Oliver Wyman’s fastest growing, most diverse practice on gender equity principles. And as Executive Sponsor of Women of Oliver Wyman, Lisa has long championed flexible working and was pivotal to introducing equal maternity and paternity leaves at 26 weeks in 2022. Lisa has also been a visible leadership role model, who operates as a commercial partner, and plays an active family role. Beyond Oliver Wyman, Lisa is on the board of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Green Hat Foundation, both organisations focused on supporting people from diverse backgrounds to thrive in the UK.

Lindsey Rix-Broom

UK Chief Executive Officer

Canada Life

Throughout her career, Lindsey has been a passionate advocate of women’s inclusion and ensuring women have the right environment to prosper. In the last year, Lindsey has set up leadership development programmes to support women in gaining the necessary skills and experience to grow and ultimately improve the leadership talent pipeline. She has also: advocated for Canada Life to become an accredited living wage employer; supported the role out of our new menopause policy/tools; committed to 35% women in senior leadership roles by 2023; championed hybrid working for all colleagues; and set out clear actions to reduce the gender & ethnicity pay gap. Gender diversity has also always been at the top of her agenda, and that is why she has also continued to remain committed to raising its profile publicly through joining the 30% club, discussing its importance in the media, and supporting the local communities we operate in.

Casey Ryan

Global Managing Partner

Reed Smith

On April 1, 2023, Casey Ryan became the Global Managing Partner of Reed Smith, the first woman to lead the firm in its 147-year history. Prior to assuming the top leadership position, for eight years Casey was the Global Head of Legal Personnel overseeing the firm's DEI Program, Women's Initiative Network, and recruiting, retention and hiring programs for lawyers. In 2021, she oversaw the launch of the Family Network, which included the introduction of benefits such as childcare, tutoring, and peer to peer networking, as well as resources to achieve a work-life balance across all family stages. Other policies implemented under Casey’s leadership include a global flexible working policy to provide for agile work; expanded maternity and adoption leave policies; a family forming benefit with a leading global fertility benefits provider, and a Declared Pronoun policy focused on communicating preferred pronouns.

Aysem Sargin

Managing Director

Boeing Turkey

Aysem, Managing Director at Boeing Turkey, has substantially contributed to fostering an inclusive environment at Boeing and beyond. As a member and sponsor of BWIL METACA since 2019, she has driven women's empowerment initiatives. She's a proactive contributor, delivering presentations that offer a global perspective on diversity and inclusion. Aysem's impact expanded as she concurrently served as Executive Sponsor for BWIL METACA and BWIL Europe in 2020, enabling her to share best practices across regions. Beyond Boeing, Aysem serves as Chair of the International Investors Association and a Board Member of the American Chamber in Turkey, where she champions women's empowerment in the workforce, STEM education, and women's entrepreneurship. Aysem's collaboration with NGOs and academic institutions further exemplifies her dedication. She promotes women's participation in engineering and aviation careers by partnering with organizations like the Turkish Women's International Network and engaging with universities.

Jennifer Taylor

Chief Compliance Officer for Citibank, N.A & Banking and International

Citi

As Co-Chair of Citi's EMEA Women Affinity Steering Committee, Jennifer spearheaded the creation of initiatives, including the "Power Walk," bringing women and male allies together to walk in pairs, sharing stories in a mentoring conversation. In 2023, 400 employees across 23 locations participated, with plans to expand in 2024. Jennifer is an advocate for gender diversity; hiring a number of high-profile women, improving her department's gender diversity globally and at senior levels. She is a mentor to several women and sponsors talent within Citi and pan- industry. Prior to joining Citi, Jennifer was the Co-Chair of EMEA D&I Council at a top-tier investment bank, where she executed a global D&I strategy, oversaw mentoring programs and panels, and drove progress toward representation targets. Furthermore, Jennifer was invited to ring the closing bell at the NYSE in celebration of International Women's day in 2022 in recognition of her diversity efforts. Jennifer also sits on the board of Vital Voices, a non-profit organization that works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women's political participation, and human rights.

Claudia Boeri

President, SAP Latina America South

SAP

Claudia Boeri, President of SAP South Region, fostered a genuinely inclusive workforce representing over 18 nationalities. Since taking the helm in September 2018, she has orchestrated remarkable growth in the percentage of women in the company and management positions, with rates reaching 51% and 50.5%, respectively. Her advocacy for diversity has materialized through groundbreaking initiatives like an inclusive parental leave policy and the promotion of women leaders in key positions, including Argentina and Peru. Beyond her SAP role, Claudia is deeply engaged in various leadership positions and board memberships, including Women Corporate Directors, Junior Achievement Argentina, and IDEA. Her accolades include being ranked #1 in the "Women Leadership 25" and participating in impactful events like TEDxBarrioSanNicolás and the Gender Equality event. Claudia's dedication extends to mentoring women within SAP's Business Women's Network, further solidifying her commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Sheetal Acharya

Director of Operations, Global Transformation Office

National Grid

Sheetal is the Director of Operations Global Transformation Office at National Grid, where she also is the Executive Sponsor of the Women in Networks Employee Resource Group and has orchestrated impactful initiatives to promote gender parity and empower women. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace is evident through her leadership of the 1st Annual Women's Summit, which brought together over 100 women for networking and learning. Sheetal's focus on pay equity is marked by hosting events like the "Unhappy Hour" on Equal Pay Day and facilitating the WiN Pay Equity Panel to raise awareness about gender pay gap issues. Beyond her professional endeavors, Sheetal was the Opening Speaker for President Biden's Cancer Moonshot Launch, sharing her inspirational story of overcoming Stage 1 breast cancer. Sheetal's dedication to breast cancer awareness and supporting women's health underscores her commitment to making a positive impact both professionally and personally.

Jen Tippin

Chief People & Transformation Officer

NatWest Group

As Chief People & Transformation Officer and executive sponsor for LGBT+, Jen co-chairs NatWest’s One Bank Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Committee, bringing together key stakeholders (including employee-led networks) to share best practice and drive positive change. Jen builds a culture of inclusivity where everyone can thrive, working with the Gender Network to ensure women's voices are heard. Jen pushes for constant improvement, e.g., by updating NatWest’s parental leave policy, introducing enhanced menopause support and improving business travel policies to enhance colleague safety. Jen relentlessly holds leaders to account for attracting and retaining diverse talent and building strong sustainable pipelines. Externally, Jen is a proactive ambassador, speaking at events to facilitate change, and supports campaigns such as 25x25, an initiative to help to increase the number of female CEOs in the UK FTSE. Jen is also a founding sponsor of the Bain led Stratos Academy for female talent and leaders.

Alessia Falsarone

Executive in Residence

The University of Chicago

Alessia, Executive in Residence at The University of Chicago, and independent director of private and public companies, has fostered diversity within various spheres. As the Women in Circularity network convener, Alessia was pivotal in achieving equal representation in the Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Management executive program. Her dedication resulted in a 50:50 gender participation rate across diverse sectors and countries. Alessia's influence extends to the global Women in Green Hydrogen network, where her impactful policy engagements in Australia, the U.S., and Germany have contributed to shaping gender-inclusive energy transition conversations. Her recognition as a Global Woman in Leadership Awardee by the SheInspires Foundation underscores her commitment to inclusive growth and climate justice, as demonstrated through her work in designing the first private sector investment for COVID relief programs. Her book "The Impact Challenge" showcases her dedication to creating inclusive networks, aligning business ownership with sustainability, and prioritizing women's well-being.

Victoria Cope

Commercial Director - Defence Digital

Ministry of Defence

Victoria, Commercial Director at Defense Digital in the Ministry of Defense, sponsors the Government Commercial Function RISE program, nurturing ethnically diverse and women professionals to excel as leaders. Her efforts have led to the promotion of candidates who benefitted from the program's development initiatives. As a commercial professional, working parent with a disability, and a woman leader, Victoria is a prominent advocate for underrepresented individuals. She encourages diversity within the profession through workshops, speeches, podcasts, and articles. Her leadership within the charitable sector has transformed lives, increasing the diversity of entrants into sustainable careers, particularly among vulnerable women and girls. Victoria's commitment extends to the tech sector, where she contributes to the Inspiring Leadership Foundation as NED and Chair of the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee. Her ambassadorial roles with organizations like WISE and the Royal Aeronautical Society also showcase her dedication to empowering women in technology and engineering.

Jane Geraghty

CEO

Landor & Fitch

Jane is the CEO of Landor & Fitch, a division of WPP. With over 30 years of experience in marketing, brand and communications, Jane is the driving force behind Landor & Fitch’s evolution to become the world’s leading brand and design specialist, creating transformative brands, by design. Focused on building a business that is truly equitable, Jane has successfully achieved gender equality at Landor & Fitch with 52% of leadership positions held by females and 59% of all employees being female. Jane is an active member of WPP forums such as Menopause Champions, WPP Inclusion Council, WPP Roots, and WPP Unite, where she serves as the U.K. Executive Lead for LGBTQ+ initiatives. Beyond her role at Landor & Fitch, Jane is also an advisor to Women Political Leadership (WPL), aiding women's empowerment in government and business. Jane is also a Reykjavik Global Action Advisory Board member.

Danielle Harmer

Chief People Officer

Aviva

Danny is responsible for Aviva’s DE&I strategy, which supports women through initiatives including: simplifying job adverts resulting in more female candidates; including diversity targets in Executive reward; monthly reporting on gender diversity; inclusive leadership training; Aviva’s own Licence to Hire training (covering non-inclusive behaviours and recruiting underrepresented candidates); extending sponsorship programmes for underrepresented talent (including women); and engaging 1,000+ part-time colleagues (87% female) to understand their challenges around progression resulting in a new parental leave coaching programme. Danny personally champions the female agenda in many ways, including by encouraging businesses to consider the potential long-term impact of hybrid working on women, carers and the future gender pay gap. Aviva’s approach includes equal parental leave, paid carers leave, menopause and domestic abuse support, for which Danny is co-executive sponsor. Danny is also the co-executive sponsor of Aviva’s Pride community and has contributed to several external articles, and events, championing women.

Ritu Sharma

Executive Director – Boeing Global Enterprise Services, India

Boeing

Ritu Sharma is the Executive Director of Boeing Global Enterprise Services, where she serves as the Executive Champion for Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership & Boeing Employee Ability Awareness Association. Her initiatives promote women's representation and professional development, making gender diversity a critical/important success criterion at Boeing. Under her leadership, with initiatives like the Women Safety Policy, Mothers' Rooms and Women Safety App, Boeing saw a remarkable rise in women's diversity ratio from 17% to 26%. Beyond Boeing, Ritu participates in organizations like CoreNet, IFMA and WiREnet, advocating diversity, inclusion, and ESG. Recently, Ritu was recognized as the Global Environmental Sustainability Champion in Boeing. Her collaboration with NGOs and local governments showcases her commitment to community wellbeing, as seen through her work supporting underprivileged children and establishing healthcare facilities in remote areas. Ritu's passion for change has made her a sought-after speaker and panelist, highlighting the importance of diversity and women's inclusion in various industries.

Sharon Miller

President of Small Business and Head of Specialty Banking & Lending

Bank of America

Sharon Miller is the President of Small Business and Head of Specialty Banking & Lending at Bank of America. As a Bank of America Global Diversity and Inclusion Council member, she actively shapes an inclusive culture while chairing the Corporate Benefits Committee and co-sponsoring the Women's Executive Development Program. Sharon's influence extends to mentoring small business owners, providing invaluable support to ventures like Chica Beauty, which she elevated through platforms like the Jennifer Hudson Show. Her dedication shines through initiatives like the annual Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight, shedding light on their unique challenges. Sharon's affiliations with institutions like the Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell and the National Association of Women Business Owners underscore her commitment to empowering entrepreneurs.

Maral Kazanjian

Chief People Officer

Moody's

Maral Kazanjian became Moody's Chief People Officer in February 2022 after working as an employment lawyer at the company earlier in her career. In her current role, Maral actively fosters an environment of empowerment and equality across Moody’s. She has led conversations with employees around fertility support, career growth, fair compensation, and meaningful recognition. Under her guidance, Moody's has been acknowledged for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, earning spots on Diversity Inc.'s list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity and the Pinnacle Inclusion Index by Seramount. As the Executive Sponsor of the RISE program at the company, Maral has boosted women's leadership development, leading to transformative outcomes for many people. An Armenian General Benevolent Union alum, she remains actively engaged in supporting global women's advancement, showcasing her commitment to leading positive change.

Melíosa O’Caoimh

Country Head, Ireland

Northern Trust

As Country Head for Northern Trust Ireland, Meliosa is responsible for all its asset servicing business conducted from Dublin and Limerick supporting fund managers and institutional investors worldwide. Under her leadership, female representation at senior level has moved from 37% in 2019 to 44% in 2022. Meliosa led the firm’s signatory of the Women in Finance Charter in Ireland, setting a target of improving senior female representation from 44% to 48% by 2025. Meliosa has led a number of notable initiatives across the Irish community to help underrepresented groups obtain work experience. Meliosa is the chair of the 30% Club in Ireland. Since taking on this role, Meliosa has committed to ensuring the network is fully inclusive of diverse groups, recognizing the additional challenges underrepresented women face. She is planning to expand the network’s reach, recognising the talent in regions beyond Dublin, and ensuring the network is accessible to all.

Claudia Parzani

Partner, Linklaters

Linklaters

Always passionate and supporter of the value of the diversity, Claudia serves as sponsor many initiatives and acts as a mentor to support female talent. Since 2022, she is Chair of the Italian Stock Exchange, the first woman in this position. She founded Breakfast@Linklaters, the largest Italian female business community, is the Italian Ambassador of Inspiring Girls and a Special Friend of UNHCR in Italy, supporting the campaign for the instruction of refugees focusing on young women. She was President of ValoreD, the largest Italian association of companies for gender inclusion and contributed to create InTheBoardroom. She published “Meravigliose. Tour guidato all’interno di noi stesse” dedicated to gender issues and “Si vince solo insieme” on the value of diversity, sustainability, human capital. She frequently speaks at conferences on various topics, including gender issues and is a member of the most important juries granting awards to leading companies and eminent individuals.

Tanuja Randery

Managing Director and Vice President of Amazon Web Services, Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Amazon Web Services

Tanuja Randery, Managing Director and Vice President of Amazon Web Services, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) is responsible for setting EMEA strategy and guiding the company’s growth across the region. She leads multi-country, cross-functional teams who work closely with customers, from startups through to the world’s largest enterprises. Tanuja has more than 25 years of strategic, commercial and operational experience. She joined AWS in 2021 from McKinsey & Company, where, as a Partner, she led enterprise transformation projects in the technology and industrial sectors. Prior roles include CEO, UK & Ireland for Schneider Electric, CEO of UKI and Benelux for Colt, and head of strategy for EMC in North America. She founded the PowerWomen Network—a cross-industry network for senior women business leaders, and hosts a podcast, PowerWomen Speak, on what it takes for women to be successful in business.

Megan Starr

Global Head of Impact

Carlyle

Megan, the Global Head of Impact at Carlyle, is a trailblazer driving change within the private equity industry and Carlyle's portfolio. Megan has pioneered innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, catalyzing transformative impacts. Under Megan's leadership, Carlyle has embarked on DEI endeavors, including the ESG Data Convergence Initiative - a groundbreaking partnership uniting 300+ general and limited partners to standardize ESG reporting metrics, including diversity and women on boards. Megan's support of diversity's positive correlation with profitability was instrumental in establishing Carlyle's $8B ESG-linked credit facilities, focusing exclusively on Board diversity. Moreover, as a mentor and advocate, Megan actively contributes to Carlyle's Global Mentorship Program and Women's Employee Resource Group, fostering inclusion within the firm and the community. Megan's contributions have garnered widespread recognition and media coverage, from private markets forums to Bloomberg and PEI Responsible Investment Forum, where she delivers keynote speeches on pioneering ESG initiatives.

Sarah Morris

Managing Director

Bain Capital Private Equity

Sarah, Managing Director at Bain Capital Private Equity, joined other women leaders at Bain Capital in creating the inaugural women's leadership event and network, fostering an environment of support and empowerment. Sarah's mentorship extends across diverse career stages, propelling women to achieve their fullest potential. Sarah also initiated and sponsored the portfolio company CEI Community of Practice, driving transformation in a challenging landscape. Sarah's commitment extends beyond Bain Capital, as evidenced by her role on the global 30% steering committee since 2017, catalyzing the growth of boards to an impressive 41% diversity. As a dedicated Women of the Future advisory board member, she contributes to developing impactful programs and awards. As a speaker and mentor, Sarah extends her reach to schools, the industry, and professions, fostering the next generation of diverse talent and ensuring a more inclusive future.

Kelly Burtenshaw

Head of Finance

British American Tobacco

Kelly is the Head of Finance at British American Tobacco. With a global perspective, Kelly has been a driving force behind enhancing working conditions, parental arrangements, and career pathways for women's talent within BAT. As the first woman Finance Director in PTC's history, Kelly leads a diverse team, recognizing her pivotal role in promoting an inclusive culture. She also initiated the first flexible working policy at BAT Australia, emphasizing work-life balance and inclusivity. As a catalyst for change, Kelly leads the Women Inclusion Network in Pakistan, fostering open dialogues and creating safe spaces for growth and learning among women in the workplace. Her dedication to empowering women leaders extends beyond her organization. Kelly has shared her insights on diversity, innovation, leadership, and career development through keynote speeches and presentations at various conferences. She also mentors and advocates aspiring women professionals, providing guidance and encouragement.

Yolanda Seals-Coffield

Chief People Officer

PwC US

Yolanda Seals-Coffield is the PwC US Chief People Officer. As a principal who has been with the firm for over 12 years, Yolanda has worked with teams across every aspect of the employee experience. In 2022, Yolanda launched My+, the firm’s biggest and boldest reimagination of its people experience. Before joining the US Leadership Team, she was the firm’s Chief Employment Counsel and also previously served as president of the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. Outside of work, Yolanda is an active leader in the Stamford Norwalk Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. and the Fairfield County Chapter of The Links Incorporated. Yolanda received her JD from the Boston University School of Law where she was a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow and a staff editor of the Public Interest Law Journal. She is a proud graduate of Howard University, where she received her BA.

Katie Grosvenor

Chief Engagement & Growth Officer

GroupM

Katie is the Chief Engagement & Growth Officer at GroupM. Passionate about gender equality, she sponsored and led the Gender ERG at IAS EMEA, fostering an inclusive environment for gender-related conversations. As an Executive Sponsor, she champions the Unite ERG, supporting LGBTQIA+ members. Katie's impact extends to mentorship and sponsorship programs, elevating underrepresented talent to leadership positions and held the position of COO for the women’s network, Bloom, in 2021. She actively endorses the Visible Start program, aiding women in reentering the advertising field after career breaks. Through media appearances and speaking engagements, Katie uses her voice to address workplace inequalities, retention, and mentorship. Beyond the workplace, she collaborates with Business in the Community's Cost of Living Taskforce to alleviate employees' financial challenges. Katie's accolades include being recognized as one of Management Today's 35 Under 35 and one of the U.K.'s 50 Most Influential Women in Tech.

Mirjam Staub-Bisang

Head of BlackRock Switzerland and member of the EMEA Executive Committee

BlackRock

Mirjam Staub-Bisang, Head of BlackRock Switzerland and member of the EMEA Executive Committee advocates for diversity within the financial industry and a recognized leader in sustainable investing. Leading a team of about 120 employees, she shapes BlackRock's presence in Switzerland while serving as a non-executive director of the global shoe retailer Bata and contributing to prominent boards like the Asset Management Association Switzerland and Swiss Sustainable Finance. Mirjam also co-sponsors Elevate—a program nurturing emerging women talent within BlackRock's Women's Initiative & Allies Network (WIN). As an active Black Professionals & Allies network member, she fosters meaningful opportunities for Black professionals. Mirjam's legacy extends beyond the workplace, as she founded and chaired the "MBA for Women Foundation," providing financial aid for women pursuing MBAs. She endowed the "Mirjam Staub-Bisang Research Fund for Sustainable Investing" at INSEAD and earned recognition as one of the "Top 100 Women in Business" in Switzerland.

Beth Wade

Global Chief Marketing Officer

VMLY&R

Beth Wade is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at VMLY&R. Inspired by the impactful careers of her grandmothers, she champions gender equality within VMLY&R. Beth has facilitated meaningful change and growth as a founding member, chair, and executive sponsor of Lumina, VMLY&R's employee resource network for women. With more than 500 members and a growth rate exceeding 50% in 2022, Lumina delivers valuable programming and initiatives, including support for nonprofits, safe space discussions, policy enhancements, and a Buddy Program. Beth has created captivating content, including her "Innovators Chat" LinkedIn interview series, which highlights inspirational stories of entrepreneurial women, and her former podcast, "VMLY&R Women Around the World," which highlighted diverse career paths. She's created VMLY&R’s Re/Imagine client event series, hosted industry panels and received prestigious awards, including 2023 Ingram's CMO of the Year and 2022 Top 50 Women Leaders in Missouri.

Catherine Hall

VP Operations, Supply Chain & Procurement

Shell

Catherine is the Vice President of Operations for Supply Chain & Procurement at Shell, where she also chairs Balance@Shell, the gender ERG for 6000 UK employees, delivering a strategy of inclusion, enabling all to progress and a balanced ‘future of work’. She inspires and engages the network through events like International Women's Day, the Senior Women's Network, fostering role models and introducing innovative external coaches. She actively creates allies among her male colleagues, promoting critical conversations. Catherine influenced progressive changes, such as policies on menopause and extended Partner Leave. During her ERG leadership, Shell has achieved recognition as a Times Top 50 Employer for Women in 2022 and 2021. Externally, Catherine sits on the Gender Leadership team of Business In the Community (BITC) and the Women's Network Forum. Across her roles in Shell, Catherine has been a role model for inclusive leadership and promoted an environment where all can thrive.

Beth Diamond

Global Head of Claims

Beazley

In January 2020, Beth joined the Executive, taking on the global Group Head of Claims role, reporting to Beazley's CEO. She is responsible for the development, management, and operational efficiency of a high-performing global team who she committed to a culture valuing inclusion, friendliness, approachability, and creativity. Throughout her career, Beth has been devoted to developing junior talent through mentorship, helping many achieve promotions because she is passionate about empowering others to accomplish their objectives, maximize their opportunities, and stretch their development. Since she took the helm, Beth was able to double the number of People of Color on the team and materially increase the number of managers who are People of Color, as she recognizes development and promotion are crucial markers of change. Beth also played a key role in extending parental leave to 6 months paid leave, honoring equality in family responsibility while materially enhancing a staff benefit.

Denise Gibson

Co-head of the Global Leveraged Finance Group

Allen & Overy

Denise, Co-Head of the Global Leveraged Finance Group at Allen & Overy, is a driving force for gender equality and diversity in the legal field. Denise has played a crucial role in recruiting women partners across the firm's global operations, resulting in an impressive 45% women partners in her practice. She also revitalized the London Women Partners Network to enhance senior women's representation. Her dedication to fostering women talent spans initiatives like A&O Women Making their Mark and Emerging Leaders programs. Denise's tenure on the A&O Board saw the introduction of gender targets, aiming for 50% women at the highest echelons. Her collaborations include partnering with The Female Lead on their Women at Work Report and championing Womankind Worldwide as an advocate and fundraiser, raising over £1m 2023 for women's rights. Denise's innovative approach extends to hosting gender-inclusive client events, creating lasting impact within her profession.

Natasha Harrison

Managing Partner

Pallas Partners LLP

Natasha is a leading international disputes lawyer and one of only a few women to set up and lead a London/New York firm. She launched Pallas Partners in February 2022, starting out as a majority female led firm with diversity integral to the wider strategy; Pallas has pledged to achieve diversity parity by 2025. Natasha has signed-up and committed Pallas to the Law Society’s Women in Law pledge, the Equal Representation in Arbitration pledge and the Menopause Workplace pledge. She has also launched Pallas’ first Employee Resource Group for Women, to provide the team with a safe space to share experiences and discuss challenges and success. Natasha has been leading the way on innovation in the legal sector for years and in the past year was listed by Financial News as one of the 50 Most Influential Lawyers and as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in European Finance.

Melanie Kalmar

Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer

Dow

Melanie Kalmar is the Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Digital Officer at Dow. With a steadfast focus on gender diversity, Melanie has driven a remarkable 41.5% women’s representation, including 50% women’s leadership representation, within Dow's CIO organization. As the executive sponsor of the Prime Employee Resource Group, she advocates for an age-inclusive workforce that values experience. Melanie actively supports the POWER Up program, aiding the career development of thousands of Dow's employees. Her leadership extends to the tech community as an advisory board member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, earning recognition as their 2021 Woman of the Year. Acknowledged by various prestigious awards, including Forbes' 2023 CIO Next honoree and Technology Magazine's Top 100 Women in Technology, Melanie inspires change and innovation in the technology landscape.

Leanne Wood

Chief HR Officer

Vodafone Group

Leanne has been driving gender equity and inclusion for over 20 years across technology, fashion and FMCG industries. At Vodafone, Leanne is an Executive Committee Member and Sponsor of its Employee Networks including the Women's Network. She led Vodafone's #CountMeIn diversity data capture initiative, enabling an intersectional approach to DEI and further strengthened women's inclusion and representation with the launch of the Reciprocal Mentoring program to encourage senior leaders to connect with minority groups and ensure the lived experiences of women inform the future of Vodafone. Leanne equalised parental leave at Vodafone to support diverse parents and families so that responsibilities can be shared, with more than 2,300 women and 1,600 men benefiting from April 2022 – April 2023. In her role as Trustee of Vodafone Foundation, she championed the Apps Against Abuse initiative to help connect 2.4million people to support to date, including women facing domestic abuse.

Amanda Brock

CEO

OpenUK

Amanda supports the initiatives of several organizations and leads one of the most diverse organisations in tech. OpenUK has Diversity at its core and its first Sate of open Con tech conference had 44% non male speakers and almost 40% female delegates . For IWD Day in 2022 she organised an event at the House of Lords with Baroness Kennedy and the Judges rescued from Afghanistan and in 2023 at BT Tower brining almost 100 women together. She’s been a Judge at We are the City's Rising Stars Program, speaks at many organizations' diversity events and mentors a number of young women. She successfully nominated one of them as the winner of Woman of the Year Next Gen in the UK this year. She also led the creation of two OpenUK Kids Camps in 2020 and 2021, designing courses for kids learning tech and gave away over 8000 digital gloves to young people, particularly targeting the digitally excluded to allow them free participation.

Charlotte Duerden

International Chief Customer Officer

American Express

Charlotte Duerden is a true advocate, consistently championing women’s inclusion; driving the conversation forward as well as initiatives and action. In her former role as UK Country Manager at American Express, Charlotte pledged to achieving a 50:50 gender balance in senior management under HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter, a target achieved in 2022. As current chair of Executive Women’s Network representing all senior women across EMEA at American Express, she has driven membership, created greater engagement bringing together senior leaders and allies to enable women’s ambition and has advocated for, and influenced changes in women’s health and menopause support at the company. In addition, she is proud to be an advocate for women in payments in the industry as a regular speaker at events to inspire women to be ambitious including to a new generation of women leaders at the inaugural Women in Open Banking event earlier this year.

Jane Edwarde

Partner

Slaughter and May

Jane is the lead Partner of the Real Estate group and is a Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Slaughter and May. As a champion for inclusion, she creates a legacy of impact through the strategic oversight of inclusion initiatives, leading the gender balance working group, and acting as a Sponsor Partner for the firm’s Gender Equality Network. Jane has been instrumental in firmwide changes with the launch of the flexible working pilot, championing fair parental leave and sponsoring training aimed at facilitating a ‘speak-up’ culture. Jane’s efforts go beyond the firm as she works in collaboration with the Black Solicitors Network, and as a mentor with Real Estate Balance and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She is also a speaker at a variety of events including an International Women’s Day panel with NOTICED. Jane looks forward to continuing to further diversity and inclusion within the firm and the wider community.

Mel Edwards

Global CEO

Wunderman Thompson

Mel Edwards is Global CEO of Wunderman Thompson, overseeing the network’s 20,000 creatives, data scientists, technologists, and storytellers across 90 markets. She is passionate about building diverse teams and giving people the confidence to be their authentic selves – that’s how you create outstanding ideas and make a positive impact on society. Under Mel’s leadership, Wunderman Thompson has become one of the most awarded networks for creativity and innovation, winning Cannes Lions Grands Prix in 2021, 2022, and 2023, crowned Campaign’s ‘Global Integrated Network of the Year’ and named to Ad Age’s A-List in 2023. Mel has featured in Campaign’s A-List, The Drum’s Digerati, HERoes Women Role Models, and Ad Age’s European Women to Watch. In 2023 she was named Business Woman of the Year in Marketing and Communications at the European CEO Awards, and Agency Leader of the Year at the Campaign Global Agency of the Year Awards. Mel lives in London with her husband Rich, her children, Honor and Mack, and their dog Whiskey.

Francia Sales

Head of CSC

Manulife

Francia is a highly accomplished professional serving as the Head of CSC at Manulife. She holds the position of Executive Chair and Sponsor of the Global Women's Alliance (GWA), where she has made significant contributions. Under her leadership, GWA has witnessed remarkable growth in membership and has successfully implemented impactful initiatives like #IamRemarkable Workshop series. With a deep commitment to women's empowerment, Francia has been a passionate advocate for gender equality. She has represented the Philippines and APAC in various Diversity and Inclusion workshops and has actively participated in Women Leadership discussions. Francia's outstanding achievements have earned her recognition as one of the Top 100 most influential Filipino Women on LinkedIn in 2023.

Lisa Fernihough

Chief People Officer

KPMG

Lisa is the Chief People Officer and Partner at KPMG UK. With executive accountability for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) strategies, Lisa champions the firm's commitment to 40:40:20 representation, promoting a minimum of 40% women and 40% men in leadership roles and fostering an environment where everyone thrives. Lisa's advocacy shines through her sponsorship of award-winning mentorship programs like RaiseYou, nurturing a diverse talent pipeline, and I.T.'s Her Future, a ground-breaking network for women in technology. She actively contributes to the Women in Leadership community, sharing insights and inspiration with peers. Her contributions to the industry earned her recognition from organizations like Women in Banking Finance, the MCA, and in the recently published book, “Women in Leadership: 500 Lessons to our Younger Selves.”

Heather Mitchell

Chief Risk Officer, Head of EMEA and the firm's global General Counsel for Investments

Carlyle

As Chief Risk Officer, Head of EMEA, and the firm's global General Counsel for Investments, Heather Mitchell drives Carlyle's commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive teams. Heather's advocacy goes beyond words, as she sits on Carlyle's DEI Council, a pioneering initiative within the investment management sector, and is a vital member of the ESG Committee, assessing ESG-related risks. Heather also plays a crucial role in Carlyle's Women's Employee Resource Group, fostering an inclusive environment. Her contributions have garnered recognition, including being named in lists like Private Equity News' Twenty Trailblazing Women and Financial News' Fifty Most Influential in P.E. The Financial Times and the Legal 500 GC Powerlist have acknowledged her role in risk management and impactful initiatives. Heather's transformative leadership extends beyond Carlyle; she founded Law-G, a charity supporting Afghan legal professionals, and serves on the board of Cornell Law School.

Mohita Sajwan

Chief Operating Officer - Consumer and Healthcare

Genpact

Mohita Sajwan, Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Consumer and Healthcare at Genpact, leads initiatives that drive progress in gender diversity and has fostered supportive environments like the 'Women in Insurance' group. Her championing of sponsorship through the Pay It Forward program empowers women to succeed by pairing them with influential leaders, resulting in remarkable growth from 32 to 3075 sponsor-protégé pairs in nine years. Mohita's efforts have significantly increased gender diversity in the Consumer Goods & Healthcare vertical, as well as in the Insurance vertical that she previously led as the COO. Her influence extends beyond Genpact as she engages in meaningful conversations with client leaders to foster awareness and support for inclusion. Passionate about mentoring, Mohita actively engages with youth groups, guiding them toward fulfilling their potential and becoming change-makers.

Louise Prashad

Chief HR Officer

Diageo

Louise was appointed Chief HR Officer in January 2022 and is the Executive member responsible for the design and implementation of Diageo's Inclusion and Diversity strategy. In her previous role as Global Talent Director, Louise led the creation of Diageo's Thriving Through Menopause guidelines to raise awareness and understanding of menopause throughout the business. The guidelines are live in over 40 countries and in June 2022, Louise championed Diageo to become the first global company to make the balance+ menopause app available to all employees. Since Louise’s appointment, Diageo has introduced a variety of further guidelines and policies to assist its ambition of creating the most supportive and inclusive environment, with the company launching in 2023 Pregnancy Loss Guidelines globally and Fertility Support Guidelines in the UK. Louise is committed to ensuring Diageo drives change across society, with the company for example having ambitious goals to increase its Supplier Diversity spend with minority-owned businesses, including female-owned, to 15 percent by 2030.

Enna Jimenez

Business Transformation and Quality Leader

IDEMIA

Enna is a Founding Committee Member of Women in IDEMIA Network, WIN, facilitates WIN Circles in Boston, giving women a chance to come together in a safe space, and supported the launch of WIN's first Mentor/Mentee program. She spearheaded on-boarding recruiting vendors based in Puerto Rico to increase diversity for its Engineering roles and led the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, raising awareness of Latinas and their influence in collaboration with LatAm colleagues. Enna created a partnership between IDEMIA and ALPFA, to bring our TSA Precheck enrollment to their Annual Convention for 2-years in a row. Enna has been an active public speaker, speaking at over 40 organizations, conferences, and workshops, raising awareness of Afro-Latinas in Technology, leading as a woman, sponsorship, and mentoring.

Elaine Grell

Chief People Officer UK and EMEA

Ogilvy

Elaine has over 20 years’ experience leading strategic human resources; shaping and delivering people and culture solutions in global FTSE100 and SME scale-up businesses in Europe and the US. She has led transformative people initiatives that reflect her dedication to fostering a culture of equality and empowerment. Elaine champions women's diversity and inclusion through strategic actions such as supporting Employee Networks like "Parents & Carers” and sponsoring programmes like Elevate to advance Black women's leadership and 30for30 which empowers and develops women across the EMEA region. Outside of Ogilvy, she actively participates in initiatives that promote gender diversity and inclusion. Elaine's mentorship roles with organizations like PWN, WiHTL, and CIPD demonstrate her commitment to uplifting women and guiding aspiring leaders. She has also lent her expertise to podcasts, panel discussions, and conferences, sharing insights on topics ranging from non-traditional career paths to hybrid working environments.

Nadjia Yousif

Managing Director & Partner, Chief Diversity Officer

Boston Consulting Group

In addition to being a leader within BCG’s Technology and Digital Advantage practice, Nadjia serves as BCG's Chief Diversity Officer. Nadjia helps drive BCG's internal diversity agenda and foster an equitable and inclusive environment across the firm. In 2023, Nadjia's team successfully launched the firm's BLISS (Bias-Free, Leadership, Safety, and Support) Index, which is used to quantify the employee experience of inclusion and ensure everyone can bring their authentic selves to work – creating a happier, more motivated, ambitious workforce. With a focus on gender diversity, Nadjia assists BCG in maintaining equal retention rates of men and women across all cohorts, resulting in women representing 46% of BCG's global workforce and leading BCG's businesses in some of the world's largest economies. Nadjia's unwavering passion for driving BCG's DEI agenda is only matched by her dedication to family. This year, she was overjoyed to welcome the arrival of a healthy baby girl.

Heather White

Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Genpact

Heather White is Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Genpact. She serves on Genpact’s Leadership Council, and leads all legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions for Genpact. She brings more than 20 years of broad legal experience to the company and played a key leadership role in the company’s initial public offering in 2007. Heather also serves as head of Genpact’s Corporate Social Responsibility team, where she sets the strategy for the company’s global giving and volunteering programs. Genpact believes deeply in making a positive contribution to the communities in which we live and operate. She is also head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, driving programs and policies that foster an innovative and inclusive culture. Prior to joining Genpact, Heather was a member of the corporate department at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, serving clients out of their New York and London offices. Heather holds a juris doctor degree from New York University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Cornell University.

Tracey Yurko

Chief Legal Officer

Bridgewater Associates

As Chief Legal Officer, Operating Committee Member, and Partner, Tracey is among the most senior leaders at Bridgewater. Her work spans initiatives designed to promote equality for all employees as well as DEI programs within the legal department. Under Tracey's leadership, Bridgewater instituted pay equity audits by a third-party and is one of the only alternative asset managers to disclose pay equity data for underrepresented groups on our public website. In partnership with others on her team, she established the firm's first Pro Bono program, creating opportunities for attorneys to provide services to organizations that reflect their and Bridgewater's values. Tracey is also executive sponsor for Bridgewater’s “Women’s Influence Network”. Beyond Bridgewater, she is Board Chair for Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Under Tracey’s leadership, the Board formed a DEI Committee looking not only at the board itself, but also at the team and volunteers to ensure they reflect the families they serve.

Zena Couppey

Chief Executive Officer

Altum Group

Zena wears many hats, as a professional, mom, wife, philanthropist and, at Altum Group, CEO. She is the first female CEO the business has seen since its establishment. Under her leadership she saw the business grow from $11 to $32 billion AUM, triple in size and expand in three new locations. Zena implemented a shared ownership scheme and advocated for the launch of Altum’s Philanthropic Trust. Today, Altum has 60% female representation with 60% on the TopCo Board. With 24 years of experience, Zena is responsible for Altum’s strategic vision, organic growth and oversees the delivery of quality services to clients while nurturing an open and collaborative culture. Other policy changes she’s implemented is flexible work, self-development and cultural collaboration, equal paternal leave, and she launched a lasting ESG and CSR manifesto aligned with the UN SDGs. Altum are IoD DEI Charter Signatory’s, joined the UN Global Compact and achieved carbon neutrality under her leadership.

Roni Savage

CEO & Managing Director

Jomas Associates (Engineering & Environmental)

UK’s first Black Female founder of a seven-figure turnover engineering company serving the construction sector, Roni combines being CEO of Jomas with campaigns championing women. Graduate of Portsmouth University with a BEng(hons) in Engineering Geology and Geotechnics, she also holds a Masters’ (with distinction) in Environmental Management from Exeter University. A Chartered Engineer and Chartered Geologist, she has worked on major construction schemes including the widening of the A406 and M25, and various buildings and structures across the UK. She received the highly prestigious presidential invitation to Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers (2019), was appointed Honorary Fellow of RIBA (2020), and conferred with a Honorary Doctorate by University of Portsmouth (2023) for exceptional contribution to the Construction sector. She is Construction Policy Chair for FSB. Multi award winner, international speaker and dedicated mother to three boys, Roni is passionate about diversity, social mobility and volunteers her time to mentor many.

Anushka Sunder

Head of Healthcare Private Equity North America

Blackstone

Anushka Sunder is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Healthcare Private Equity North America at Blackstone. She is also actively involved in technology, media, and consumer opportunities. Ms. Sunder joined Blackstone in 2013 and is a Director of Advarra, Precision Medicine Group, Medline, HealthEdge, Candle Media, TeamHealth, and Optiv and previously served as a Director of Blue Yonder. She has also been actively involved in Blackstone’s investments in Signature Aviation, NCR, and InComm. She is Executive Sponsor of Blackstone’s Women’s Initiative and on the Blackstone Charitable Foundation Leadership Council. Before joining Blackstone, Ms. Sunder was at TPG Capital and at Goldman Sachs in the Financial Institutions Group. Ms. Sunder received her B.A. from Harvard College, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is also a member of the Corporate Leaders Program at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Maria Paula Capuzzo

President, Africa Eurasia Division

Colgate-Palmolive

Maria Paula Capuzzo, President of the Africa Eurasia Division at Colgate-Palmolive has been a strong proponent of equity diversity and inclusion through her positions in Latin America and Africa Eurasia Middle East. She relaunched Colgate Women's Network (CWN) in both Africa Eurasia and Brazil, fostering a dynamic cross-regional-functional mentorship program that matches pairs for leadership development. She conducted studies, hosted webcasts, and LinkedIn Live sessions on pertinent topics for her 55% women Africa-Eurasia team. Maria Paula has also led transformational efforts beyond her region, relaunching CWN during her tenure as president of Colgate in Brazil. Under her leadership, Colgate received recognition for fostering diversity and inclusion, including a United Nations award for ethnic diversity practices. She also scaled the oral care educational program Bright Smiles, Bright Futures expanding its reach to engage teachers, nurses and parents. This Colgate program reaches over 1.6 billion children globally. Her dedication extends to volunteer work, including mentoring low-income students and piloting leadership programs for African talent. Maria Paula's visionary leadership continues to drive positive change and impact within Colgate and beyond.

Eva Andren

VP Head of Operations Country Manager Egypt

Ericsson

Eva Andren is the V.P. Head of Operations and Country Manager for Egypt at Ericsson, where her dedication to women's career development is evident in her initiatives to sponsor and support graduates, elevating their growth within the company. Beyond Ericsson, Eva is a prominent advocate for gender equality. As a member of the 30% Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, she drives the inclusion of women in leadership roles across various industries, and her efforts have earned recognition, including the Inclusive Leader of the Year award in 2020. With a six-year career in Africa's telecom industry, Eva has paved the way for women leaders in a predominantly male field by mentoring, coaching, and sponsoring women to excel in impactful operational roles. Eva's influence has also extended to Saudi Arabia, where she has broken barriers by promoting women employees and creating infrastructure to support their growth.

Liz Benison

Chief Executive Officer

ISS UK & Ireland

Liz Benison, CEO of UK & Ireland at ISS, played a crucial role in establishing the Global Employee Resource Group for Gender Balance, a critical initiative fostering gender equality and an inclusive environment across regions. Liz's visionary leadership extends to developing a comprehensive playbook, guiding gender equality efforts throughout the organization. This playbook highlights strategies, policies, and best practices that empower women and promote diversity and inclusion. Liz's dedication to advancing women's representation in leadership is evident through mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and inclusive hiring practices. Under her guidance, ISS has successfully increased the number of women leaders, creating a diverse and inclusive leadership team.

Joon Heem Kham

Country Chief Operating Officer

Barclays Bank Singapore

Joon Heem Kham, Country Chief Operating Officer at Barclays Bank Singapore, ensures that Employee Resource Groups, including the Gender ERG WIN, effectively drive the DEI agenda. Her commitment to gender diversity is evident through her focus on implementing best practices in hiring processes, promoting women candidates and interviewers. She also ensures that Singapore's efforts are aligned with the global targets for women's representation in leadership positions. Beyond her role, Joon Heem is a dedicated mentor and supporter of women. As a Female Champion for FWA Singapore, she empowers women to excel professionally and personally, fostering change in her organization and the wider society. Her engagement as a mentor for the FWA Advancing Women in Finance Mentoring Program underscores her dedication to guiding mid-career women in the banking and finance industry toward professional growth and development.

Corinne Ripoche

CEO

Capita Experience

Corinne Ripoche is the CEO of Capita Experience, having joined the business in October 2022. Corinne is a passionate advocate of female leadership and empowerment and is a diversity and inclusion activist. More broadly, as an intentional leader, Corinne believes in unlocking the potential of all people through empowerment and the provision of opportunity, actively mentoring in startup companies in the HR technology space. As the executive sponsor of the Capita Gender Equality Network and a regular participant in the Capita RISE program, Corinne leverages her insight and expertise to support underrepresented groups and promote development. Her positive influence extends to the industry, speaking on panels, at events, and in the media, advocating for women in the C-suite, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recognitions such as membership of the Fortune Most Powerful Women community, and her role as a board member of C200 underscore her impactful contributions to shaping a more inclusive world.

Corinna Refsgaard

Group Chief People & Culture Officer

ISS

As the Group Chief People & Culture Officer at ISS, Corinna has supported the D&I team at ISS, offering guidance, resources, and encouragement to implement initiatives that foster a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Her mentorship and advocacy ensure that the team's efforts are recognized and championed at all levels. Corinna's collaboration with H.R. departments has led to gender parity in recruitment and talent management processes. She has also played a pivotal role in developing programs and policies focusing on gender equality, such as flexible work arrangements, mentoring initiatives, and leadership development opportunities for women. Moreover, Corinna shared her experience as a speaker at the Female Young Leader event at ISS HQ in 2023. Her inspiring speech resonated with soon-to-be-graduated female students from Danish universities, offering insights into her career journey and motivating them to pursue leadership roles in business.

Jennifer Jeronimo

CEO

Gaingels

As CEO of Gaingels, Inc, Jennifer Jeronimo launched the WAVE program (Women Accessing Venture Equality). This transformative 6-month initiative empowers women and gender-diverse individuals to engage and thrive in the venture economy. This innovative initiative combines education on venture investing with networking opportunities. Beyond Gaingels, Jennifer's influence extends to the CEOX networking group, where she works with senior women throughout many industries to help women's advancement to C-suite positions through peer collaboration. A trailblazer in promoting diversity within venture capital, Jennifer's participation in industry panels, discussions, and events sets her apart. Her contributions range from powerful insights at HSBC's Women's BRG group to discussions on Invest in Her podcast and The Los Angeles Angels podcast.

Arungalai Anbarasu

Chief Technology & Strategy Officer

Waygate Technologies

Arungalai is mother to a 8-year-old daughter, fierce gender-balance advocate and a member of the Women's Network Group within her company, and she has been coaching and mentoring gender-diverse employees to succeed in their careers so that she can create more gender-diverse teams in a high-tech business. Arungalai has been promoting roles in STEM with school and university-level students and is a thought leader in Forbes Technology Council and on Gender Balance & Working Mothers. She was featured in the Top 100 Women in Technology Leaders by Technology Magazine in 2021, in the 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by National Diversity Council in 2021, and in the 10 Most inspiring women leaders to follow in 2022 by Insights Success in 2022 & 40 under 40 by CDO Magazine in 2022.

Tracey Franklin

Chief Human Resources Officer

Moderna

Tracey Franklin, Chief Human Resources Officer at Moderna, is an exceptional leader who puts belonging first when it comes to driving workplace innovation. In 2021, Tracey pioneered the 12 Moderna Mindsets, uniting the culture and empowering teams to overcome obstacles collaboratively. Amid Moderna's growth from 1,300 to 3,900 employees at the end of 2022, she championed gender and pay parity globally, with 41% of high-level leaders being women, elevating employee engagement. Tracey's influence extends beyond Moderna. Her insights shared at platforms like the Forbes Future of Work Summit highlight purpose-driven leadership and employee experience. Acknowledged as a Leader to Watch by N2 Growth and an INSIDER Top H.R. Leader, she's committed to driving inclusivity and change. Moderna's recognition as a Disability:IN Best Place to Work and one of Forbes World's Top Female-Friendly Companies reflects her impactful leadership, shaping a culture of belonging and inclusion.

Kate Tinsley

CEO

MKM

Kate Tinsley, CEO at MKM, is committed to promoting fairness throughout the organization, from the warehouse to the boardroom. Under her leadership, MKM employs over 550 women, constituting 18.3% of the workforce—exceeding the industry average. Kate's vision extends to the future, evident in the apprenticeship scheme that boasts a remarkable 40.6% female participation, showcasing her commitment to fostering diverse talent. Kate's influence goes beyond MKM. She actively collaborates with #YesSheCan, driving inclusivity across sectors. Moreover, as a Non-Executive Director of the Football Association, she champions grassroots football and supports women's football growth, reflecting her dedication to positive change.

Michelle Crossan-Matos

Chief Marketing Officer

Ulta Beauty

Michelle Crossan-Matos, Chief Marketing Officer at Ulta Beauty, is a trailblazing ally and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her leadership shines during Women's History Month, where she led fireside chats, sharing her journey and empowering others to persevere. Michelle's commitment to celebrating diversity is evident in her support for colleagues with unique backgrounds, amplifying their stories and leadership, and fostering an inclusive environment transcending race, sexuality, and education. Moreover, by collaborating closely with store associates, Michelle underscores the significance of every individual's contribution, emphasizing the collective impact in achieving the company's mission.

2023 Top 100 Women Executives

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WPP, UK President

WPP

CEO

Entain

CEO

Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam

Chief Executive Officer

Criteo

Hong Kong Senior Partner

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

President and CEO

Ahlstrom

Chief Executive Officer

Diageo

Chief Social Innovation, Communications and Brand Officer

TELUS

President, S&P Global Ratings

S&P Global

Group General Counsel

Kantar

Global Head

BNY Mellon Investment Management

CEO Europe Cluster and Member of Group Executive Committee

Vodafone Group

CEO and President

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Former President & CCO

Grey London

Global Chief Marketing Officer

State Street Corporation

Global CEO, VMLY&R COMMERCE and NY CEO, VMLY&R

VMLY&R

Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer

BlackBerry Limited

CEO

Pollen Street Capital

President, North America

Haleon

SVP International Higher Education

Pearson PLC

President of Biogen, North America

Biogen

Global CEO, Kantar Profiles

Kantar

Global CIO

WPP

CEO

HSBC Innovation Banking UK

Co-founder, President and COO

Flag Luxury

Senior Vice President- Digital Partnerships, Retail and Commerce

MasterCard

European Head of Marketing

Oliver Wyman

Chief Transformation Officer & Global Head of Relevance

EssenceMediacomX

Chief of Staff to State Street Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Head of Global CEO Experience Program

State Street Corporation

Vice President and General Manager, CertainTeed Roofing

Saint-Gobain North America

Former Managing Partner, EME

Reed Smith

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

JP Morgan

Senior Vice President Global Communications

Philip Morris International

Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

TMX Group

CEO

Hepsiburada

Global CEO & Global Diamond Wing & Author

Entrepreneurs Paradise Pty Ltd & Diamond Empire Global

Chief People Officer

Audible

EVP, Chief Purpose Officer