Catherine Wright

1
Director - Corporate Finance
HSBC Innovation Banking

Catherine is a Director in HSBC Innovation Banking’s Corporate Finance team and a strong DEI advocate for 9+ years. She sits on the DE&I ERG Leadership Committee and in 2022, she Co-Founded HSBC Innovation Banking's EMEA Gender ERG, engaging and leading colleagues to drive systemic change for a balanced, inclusive and equitable workplace. IWD, over the period ‘20-‘24, Catherine chaired NPS leading internal & public events to 400+ people, promoting DEI in the Technology/Finance sectors. Catherine is Founder of the Women in Business Society, a global non-profit professional development community serving 1000+ women. She is a UN-Women representative and member of the House of Commons Business & Parliament Forum, influencing new governmental policies to support women entrepreneurs. In line with her mission of supporting the next-generation, Catherine delivers coaching & mentoring to help women elevate their careers. She was named winner of the Great British Businesswoman Awards – Banking & Finance Businesswoman of the Year 2024.

Akua Opong

2
Senior EUC Engineer
LSEG

Akua Opong is a Senior EUC Engineer within Infrastructure & Cloud at LSEG, where over the past two years, she has facilitated conversations on women's safety, health, and career advancement for women in STEM. Akua's accomplishments include implementing charity and volunteering initiatives, Mental Health Champion, mentoring and youth engagement initiatives. This has led to donations of IT equipment, books and stationery globally helping so many communities from charities, schools, digital buses and women's refuges. Alongside raising money and awareness for Cancer charities through various activities. She's been a fervent advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace as well, actively leading discussions and fostering innovation.This year, she became a Non-Executive Director and a Trustee focused on Neurodiversity and STEM initiatives. Beyond LSEG, her commitment to mentorship and empowerment is evident in her engagement with various networks, such as Cajigo, Stemazing, Girls into Coding, GLAM and WeAreTheCity. She is passionate about raising the profile of Women in STEM, as a STEM ambassador. She was a UN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 during IWD 2024. Akua's dedication has earned her accolades, including Brummell’s One to Watch 2023, Computer Weekly Rising Star and Community Leadership EmpowHerAccess Award 2024.

Anne Marie Elona-Lainez

3
DPE Learning Program Manager
IBM

Anne is a Learning Consultant at IBM and a Co-Lead for IBMHer ASEAN+Korea Women's Business Resource Group, driving initiatives and programs for women empowerment, DEI, wellness, and volunteering. She played a key role in the IBMHer IWD 2023 Celebration and spearheaded the closing celebration, Embracing Equity Through Corporate Social Responsibility, that celebrated the intersectionality of IBMHer, EAGLE, PwDA BRGs and IBM CSR. Anne's dedication to spreading awareness and promoting learning drove major contributions towards the creation and management of the IBMHer website. She’s also a core contributor to Women in the Corner Office and a catalyst for global learning events, mentoring sessions, and workshops, covering topics like allyship and financial independence. Anne’s a certified #IAmRemarkable facilitator, challenging perceptions on self-promotion and improving skills for women and underrepresented groups. She also works with other organizations to promote STEM education and technology trends. Her unwavering dedication continues to empower women and foster diversity within IBM and beyond.

Priyanka Gangishetty

4
Senior Azure Customer Engineer
Microsoft

Priyanka Gangishetty, Senior Azure Customer Engineer at Microsoft, is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion. She leads several ERGs and Communities in different capacities at Microsoft including Women in CXP supporting over 500 women and the ACES Women Community. She has championed safe spaces for Women and Allies to have important conversations at workplaces and significantly improved women's workplace experiences. In the UK, as part of Women at Microsoft UK and EMBRACE ERGs, she has organized career talks to inspire girls in STEM and led BAME mentor recruitment for diverse students. She has spoken at several forums including UN Women's Entrepreneurship Expo 2023 and Women Tech Global Conference. She is also a UK STEM Ambassador, working towards encouraging more Girls into Tech. Recognized as a We Are Tech Women 2022 Winner, Priyanka continues to inspire and support women in their tech careers.

Maya Prentis

5
Management Consultant
KPMG

Maya Prentis is a Management Consultant at KPMG, specialising in digital transformation for financial services organisations. Maya's dedication to diversity and inclusion shines through her leadership as the former co-head of the Capgemini Race and Ethnicity Network and her influential role at KPMG, where she co-authored a report on diversity and inclusion in financial services, earning a Women in Banking and Finance award nomination. Maya mentors internal and external women talent and launched a financial education platform, supporting over 25,000 women in 19 countries. She is also three time speaker at the Women in Tech World Series. Maya’s impactful work includes producing educational campaigns with BNY Mellon and a US social media campaign featured in Times Square. Maya is completing her MBA at Imperial College, London.

Amina Lobban

6
Head of Culture, Engagement & HR Business Excellence, Global Manufacturing, Supply & Quality
Takeda

Amina Lobban, Head of Culture, Engagement & HR Business Excellence for Global Manufacturing, Supply & Quality at Takeda, has spearheaded transformative initiatives to champion women's diversity and inclusion. As the Global Co-Lead of the Gender Parity Network TRG and US Region Lead, she unified 24 global chapters, significantly contributing to Takeda's Gender Equity Strategy, which achieved an increase of 15% in women and non-binary representation in senior leadership roles in the last fiscal year. Amina also led impactful International Women's Day celebrations and launched the first US TRG mentoring program with 101 pairs across diverse business units. Beyond Takeda, Amina's role as the Global Chair of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Ambassador Program has empowered participants globally through leadership development and DEI projects. Amina also serves on the Leadership Council of The Boston Club and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts.

Dawn Carter

7
Enterprise Data Architect
BAE Systems

Dawn’s at the forefront of shaping the data architecture specialism at BAE Systems Plc, including creating standards, best practices and processes for data architecture. Beyond her professional role, she is the founder of BAE Systems Data & Analytics Women’s Network, and was the co-chair of the Gender Equity Network (GEN). Recognised as Rising Star of the Year, The British Data Awards 2024, No. 4, Involve Top 100 Female Future Leaders 2023, and part of the 2024 Twenty in Data & Tech, Dawn is a dedicated advocate for diversity. Additionally, she serves as a trustee on the board of Epilepsy Scotland, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact beyond the tech sector. Her commitment to inclusion extends to the community as an active member of Bolton Deaf Society and part of their Handmade Choir preforming songs in British Sign Language to make music more accessible to the deaf community.

Alyssa Jaffer

8
Senior Global Communications Manager and Freelance Journalist
Deliveroo

Alyssa (a-lee-sa) Jaffer is a Senior Manager of Global Communications at Deliveroo, renowned for her advocacy of gender and racial equity. She has served as the Marketplace Lead on the Gender Equity Employee Resource Group (ERG) and was the founding Chair of the Learning & Development Committee. Alyssa has organized impactful workshops on women's health with startup Daye, self-promotion with the founder of F*ck Being Humble, navigating limiting beliefs and and overcoming imposter syndrome. Her efforts in the Gender Equity ERG led to the creation of a global network of marketplace ambassadors and the launch of the Women's Connect Club, a monthly gathering for professional women. Her contributions earned her the Golden Wings Award in 2024. Additionally, Alyssa is a freelance journalist for notable publications such as Stylist Magazine, Business Insider and AllBright, and a speaker at notable events, sharing insights on work culture and gender bias. Alyssa also provides mentorship to young women within the marketing and content industry.

Lin Yue

9
Executive Director
Goldman Sachs

Lin is a multi-award winning thought-leader in delivering the intersection of business, diversity and behavioral science. Alongside her role at Goldman Sachs, she has created talk series such as “Diversity – From Awareness to Action” focusing on behavioral science and how changes happen both internally and partnering with clients and driving changes in the industry. She articulates East Asians' experience and leads discussion on Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, focusing on intersectionality of gender and race. She created the “How to find your voice” series to empower women, especially as working parents. Her Tedx talk - The Art of Being Different - is inspiring for ethnic minorities and future generations.

Shuangwei Liao

10
Associate Director, Intermediary Sales, South East Asia
Fidelity International

Shuangwei Liao is Associate Director, Intermediary Sales, South East Asia at Fidelity International. In 2023, she launched Fidelity Singapore's first mentoring program spotlighting women leadership. The following year, she introduced the second mentoring program aimed at increasing male allyship. Continuing her efforts to promote inclusivity, Shuangwei curated an event to break down stereotypes on male mental health and moderated a global panel discussion addressing gender-based challenges around financial wellbeing. As Global Gender Balance Chair, she led over 20 leaders in organizing 18 global events for International Women's Day, including a widely attended fireside chat that she moderated, featuring Fidelity’s former CEO, Anne Richards. For her contributions, Shuangwei was recognized as a finalist for Women of the Future Awards, Southeast Asia and awarded the Fidelity's Inclusion Stars Award. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Shuangwei is dedicated to youth development, initiating various programs over the years to inspire the next generation of professionals.

Lorena Leonardi

11
LAC HR Talent & Transformation Lead
Diageo

Lorena Leonardi is the LAC HR Talent & Transformation Lead at Diageo. Lorena created and led the implementation of Striding Women, a development program to advance talented women Managers to Senior Leaders within the company. The program addresses barriers such as impostor syndrome, personal branding, and self-care while fostering effective sisterhood and networking. The program also trains leaders and HR partners as women's career coaches. Striding Women has significantly improved the retention of women colleagues from 45% to 95%, promotions from 10% to 40%, and maintained high employee engagement at 84%. Outside the company, Lorena collaborated with market CR and HR teams to promote social mobility for women in Colombia through the Learning for Life program, which provides business and hospitality skills to enhance employability. Over 50% of participants have been women, and the program has established employment agreements with major distributors and hospitality venues.

Ashreen Mridha

12
Area Senior Brand Manager – VFM & Low
BAT

Ashreen Mridha, Area Senior Brand Manager at BAT, launched the Lean In initiative at BATB to provide mentorship to over 227 women, leading a circle for 15 women to address career advancement and gender biases. Collaborating with senior leadership, Ashreen revised maternity leave policies and advocated for an office childcare facility. Ashreen founded the mixed-gender sports initiative BAT Ballers, promoting inclusivity through regular activities and tournaments with a balanced gender ratio. As a champion of women empowerment, she spearheaded the Power of Passion music competition with an all-women vocal lineup and invited an indigenous all-women band for Women's Day. Ashreen also founded Deshi Ballers, a nonprofit for women's basketball development, organizing tournaments, camps, and women's leadership exchange programs, and received a National Award in 2021. She also launched Bangladesh's first children's book on girls in sports and developed the first group of licensed women basketball coaches.

Anjali Nayakanti Veera

13
Delivery Manager & EEG Global Lead
EPAM

Anjali Nayakanti Veera, the Delivery Manager & EEG Global Lead at EPAM Systems, is committed to promoting women's diversity and inclusion within EPAM Canada through various initiatives. Anjali spearheaded the EmpowerHER Program, organizing self-defense sessions, open forums, and engagement activities to foster a culture of inclusivity. As a leader of the SAEEG Program (Supporting and Advancing Ethnicities in EPAM Canada), she facilitated events, workshops, and discussions celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion. Beyond EPAM, Anjali co-founded "Let's Fight Back," empowering women against harassment and violence through educational campaigns and self-defense workshops. As a reporter for the Times of India, she has also contributed over ten articles on women's rights and empowerment. Anjali has conducted self-defense training for underprivileged girls and facilitated empowerment workshops with NGOs like Sakhya and My Choices, as a result, her efforts have been recognized through various media opportunities and formal roles with external organizations.

Diana Velarde

14
Director of Deals
PwC

Diana Velarde, Director of Deals at PwC Mexico and Co-head of the Deals Women Network, is a passionate advocate for increasing women's representation. She plays a significant role in leading the "Women in PwC" program, where she speaks at events to inspire women students and graduates to join the firm. As National Co-lead of the Disabilities Inclusion Network, Diana organizes impactful activities for Women with Disabilities Day in Mexico. She was instrumental in organizing the Mexico PwC Scopeathon, supporting gender inclusion and disability non-profit organizations. Diana provides coaching to women at various career levels, and her writings focus on the intersectionality of gender and disability. Additionally, she co-leads the NPO "Mujeres Mexicanas con Discapacidad," coordinating a leadership program and organizing workshops for women with disabilities. Diana's accomplishments also include spearheading the #12S social media campaign and being a member of the Collective of Latam Women with Disabilities. She is frequently featured in national media and speaks at numerous events, advocating for intersectional inclusion.

Natsayi Mawere

15
Partner
Reed Smith

Natsayi is the Co-Chair of Reed Smith’s NYC office’s DEI committee, has helped to develop the office's Racial Equity Action Plan and is also a liaison for the office’s Women’s Initiative Network (“WINRS”). In 2020, she introduced an annual virtual Career Day program to NYC WINRS that connects low-income and homeless women served by the NYC Coalition for the Homeless’ “First Step Program” with lawyers and professional staff in NYC WINRS. NYC WINRS attendees assisted First Step students with resume development, mock job interviews, and discussed issues women face (in the context of a job search). As part of the NYC office's REAP, Natsayi worked with colleagues to develop a pilot Associate Buddy Program in 2021, which she took the lead in taking global in 2022. She is dedicated to investing in the well-being and advancement of others, especially women facing systematic barriers to employment.

Yosr Hamza

16
Director, Legal & Compliance - Middle East
Gartner

Yosr Hamza, Director of Legal & Compliance - Middle East at Gartner, co-leads the Legal & Compliance Inclusion Council, where she has spearheaded initiatives that leave a lasting impact. From establishing internship programs to launching mentorship programs, Yosr's commitment shines through. Moreover, Yosr's individual to over 15 individuals, supporting recent graduates and senior professionals across multiple countries. She advocates for women's empowerment and champions fellow women in the legal field, challenging gender norms, advocating for authentic leadership, storytelling and fostering equitable opportunities to lift one another. Outside Gartner, she contributed to the LexisNexis Middle East Arab Women in Law book. She initiated DEI themed Coffee Chat series for ACC Women in the House, fostering open dialogue and creating a diverse, inclusive, and supportive network.

Yeon-Hee Lim

17
Senior Director
Merck

Yeon-Hee Lim co-sponsors the South San Francisco (SSF) Women’s Network and founded the SSF Women in Chemistry Committee at Merck’s SSF site. Her initiatives and leadership, coupled with steadfast mentorship, have played an essential role in fostering the professional development of diverse talent, leading to increased engagement and recognition, and contributing to a positive cultural shift towards inclusivity. Externally, Yeon-Hee’s involvement in the American Chemical Society Women Chemists Committee (WCC) reflects her dedication to promoting DEI in the broader scientific community. Her initiatives involving the WCC Research Award Career Panel Event during the pandemic and her leadership in the WCC Travel Award Program have meaningfully contributed to enhancing the visibility and engagement of junior women chemists globally. Yeon-Hee’s profound efforts to support and advocate for women and underrepresented scientists underscore her deep commitment to nurturing a diverse, inclusive, and empowering culture in the scientific community.

Carlotta Zorzi-Chapman

18
Sr Partnerships Manager
Shopify

Carlotta Zorzi-Chapman is a Senior Partnerships Manager at Shopify and a dedicated advocate for women's empowerment in tech. As part of the Women@Shopify ERG Global Leadership team, she organized global communications and impactful learning opportunities for over 2,000 women. Carlotta delivered around ten #IamRemarkable workshops, impacting approximately 100 individuals, and provided mentorship to women from diverse backgrounds to boost their confidence and take the space they deserve. Beyond Shopify, Carlotta collaborated with organizations like School16, mentoring dozens of women from underrepresented groups to enter the tech field to facilitate social mobility. Carlotta passionately believes in making tech accessible to all, not just a privileged few. She is also a vocal advocate for allyship, discussing its importance at various keynotes, including sharing the stage with Lee Chambers in 2023. Her dedication to diversity and inclusion extends to podcasts and panels, where she continues to explore and promote crucial topics.

Niamh McCaul

19
General Manager
Paramount Pictures Ireland

As General Manager of Paramount Pictures Ireland, Niamh McCaul has programmed a number of impactful events for rising women leaders, including a career path panel discussion for Paramount’s annual global Inclusion Week and a networking breakfast with the SVP of International Distribution. In her role as one of four chairs of Paramount’s Women+ Employee Resource Group, and the only EMEA member, Niamh presented on vital topics to Paramount's Board and Senior Leadership Team including the gender pay gap and menopause. This past International Women's Day, Niamh moderated a global Q&A panel for Paramount's Impact Series featuring prominent women leaders and hosted a Finance Fundamentals session with Female Invest, enhancing members' financial knowledge. As the Fundraising Chair of the ICTBF, Niamh supports industry professionals in need and has spearheaded a philanthropic arm leading to funding for further learning and development, including the prestigious Inside Pictures program for international executives and producers.

Swati Mohan

20
Product Analyst
NatWest Group

Swati Mohan, a Product Analyst at NatWest Group organized public speaking and #IamRemarkable workshops, encouraging women to reskill and upskill, especially in STEM fields. During the pandemic, Swati shared strategies for balancing work and life, and tackling gender bias. Swati's dedication to diversity was recognized with an Outstanding Service to Diversity and Inclusion award during South Asian Heritage Month in 2021 and Gender Network Advocate Award 2022. She supports small business owners , National Cadet Corps and her case study on ‘board diversity’ has been recognised for her contributions.

Gill Hardy

Head of Executive Talent EMEA & WPP Ambassador for Women
WPP

Gill is Head of Executive Talent EMEA at WPP. In 2015, she co-founded and launched WPP Stella to tackle barriers to women's career success through extensive programming, designed to increase the visibility, voice and representation of WPP’s female workforce. In 2022, Stella became an open community for all WPP Women and allies, and is a global force with 15 country chapters worldwide working under the common purpose of helping to inspire and enable WPP women to fulfil their potential and enable WPP growth through greater diversity. Now, in 2023 women represent 53% of WPP’s senior managers and 41% of executive leaders globally, while 40% of the WPP Executive Committee and 42% of the WPP Board are women. In 2024 Gill was appointed to be WPP’s first Ambassador for Women.

Sarah Chapman

Senior Technical Manager
3M

Sarah is a senior manager at 3M and Vice Chair of the Corporation Board at Farnborough College of Technology. Initially pursuing a career in ballet, an inspirational chemistry teacher led her to shift focus to science and engineering. As a past-chair and active leader in the 3M EMEA Technical Women’s Leadership Forum, working parent, and prolific mentor, Sarah is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has received multiple awards for her 1000+ hours of STEM volunteer work and has spoken on platforms like the BBC and TEDx, promoting innovation through diversity. Sarah proudly represents 3M as their North Europe STEM Champion. This role was highly commended at the 2023 Engineering and Manufacturing Awards and supports 3M’s pledge to create five million unique STEM and Skilled Trades learning experiences for underrepresented individuals by 2025.

Sara Alashqar

Area Head of Talent, Organizational Effectiveness & Inclusion, APMEA West
BAT

Sara Alashqar, Area Head of Talent, Organizational Effectiveness & Inclusion at BAT, has been instrumental in shaping diversity and inclusion efforts across her area. Her work has contributed to increased representation of women at management levels and significant appointments in traditionally male-dominated roles across the Middle East. In recognition of her efforts in driving excellence within her field, Sara was nominated as the HR Rising Star of the Middle East in 2022. She has played a key role in implementing flexible work enablers, leading inclusive policy reviews, and fostering communities that reflect the diverse makeup of her area. Her globally recognized Stay Interview initiative, highlighted by institutes like Top Employers, is considered a best practice tool. Beyond her corporate achievements, Sara, a young leader on the world stage, actively mentors and supports rising professionals, using her own accelerated journey as a source of inspiration, proving that nothing is impossible.

Lisa Ardley-Price

Managing Legal Counsel and Global Co-Chair of Gender Network
NatWest Group

Lisa Ardley-Price, Managing Legal Counsel at National Westminster Bank since 2017 and Global Co-Chair for its Gender Network since 2023, co-leads seven sub-committees and a global network of approx. 300 volunteers and 9,000 members, focusing on allyship, intersectionality, gender-specific wellbeing and career development. Lisa is also a certified coach and yoga teacher who has driven initiatives to improve colleague wellbeing. She has coached and mentored individuals internally and through external programs, fostering growth, confidence and connection. Lisa's impactful work includes speaking at events including championing social mobility, DEI and wellbeing at The Lawyer and Legal 500 industry conferences this year. Her dedication has earned her recognition, including winning In-House Counsel of the Year, Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2023 and being shortlisted DE&I Champion of the Year, Legal 500 ESG Awards 2024. Lisa also serves as a European Representative for the Global BAFT Women in Transaction Banking Committee.

Sanjana Chhantyal

Youth Solutions Program Project Lead
Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth (SDSN-Youth)

Sanjana Chhantyal is dedicated to expanding women’s and youths’ access to education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. At SDSN-Youth, she leads two SDG-focused global entrepreneurship accelerator programs that have supported young changemakers in over 50 countries. Sanjana is UN Women Asia and the Pacific's 30 for 2030 Youth Leader, USAID Youth Excel’s Global Youth Advisor and Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador. She regularly speaks at international conferences, advocating for a youth and gender lens to be incorporated in policy and program design at grassroot and global levels. As part of UN Women campaigns, she has authored articles highlighting how technological interventions can connect women and girls to career opportunities and how investments can create holistic change in women’s sports. A Fulbright Scholar and Emory MBA graduate, Sanjana founded the Next Steps Project and conducts mentorship sessions to help aspiring students, especially young girls and first-generation students to pursue higher education and apply for scholarships. She co-founded the Stree-Shakti (Women in Energy) Project that encourages and prepares young women to pursue green jobs in Nepal’s Energy sector and support climate action.

Muneebah Quyyam

Senior Engineer
AtkinsRéalis

Muneebah is a multi-award-winning Senior Engineer at AtkinsRéalis with a background in Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear and Transportation. Muneebah works in a technical role and has a wealth of expertise and experience of successful leadership and delivery of major engineering projects. Muneebah is committed to supporting the advancement of underrepresented groups, she coaches others to develop their skills and confidence to achieve their career aspirations. Muneebah mentors Senior Executives to ensure business strategies and services are inclusive and accessible to all. Muneebah has worked with an International Publisher to transform STEM education, increasing diverse role models and career profiles in the national cirriculum. Muneebah is bold in how she thinks, communicates, and leads and her outstanding achievements have been recognized globally. Muneebah received the 2024 Top 50 Women in Engineering Award, was a finalist for the Asian Women of Achievement Award and recognized as an Empower Top 100 Future Leader.

Suzie Nolan

Head of Property
Aviva

Suzie is an active member of Balance in Aviva, seeking cross-community collaborations with the Pride, Carers, Origins and Ability networks. She is actively involved in the 30% Club Ireland, chairing the Financial Services Group and sitting on the Steering Committee. She is regularly invited to join panel discussions and moderated a panel of CEOs at the 30% Club’s Chair & CEO event, leading a discussion on how we can improve gender representation at the C-suite, addressing the gender power gap. Suzie also challenges the gender stereotypes in education and career selection. We can make a real difference to the future of our companies through a more informed cohort of diverse, next generation employees. Suzie uses her role as Head of Property to support diversity charities through rent free or reduced rent space when there is strategic vacancy within her portfolio. Most recently, she has supported Neurodiversity Ireland and Dublin Pride.

Connie Wilson

Senior R & D Technologist
BAE Systems

Connie Wilson, Senior R&D Technologist at MarLabs, BAE Systems, is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering. As an active member of internal network groups, she contributes to events, resources, and publications promoting women in engineering. Connie serves on the BAE Systems Maritime Sector Local Apprenticeship Council, suggesting strategies for the retention of women colleagues and encouraging more applicants from women. She mentor's colleagues, with over half of her mentees being women, helping them advance in their careers. As a STEM Ambassador, Connie has volunteered 270 hours, reaching over 8,000 students from May 2022 to May 2024. Connie is also a Fellow and Mentor at the University of Nottingham Trent and Founder of STEMCourage, a mentoring program for A-level students with significant women and ethnically diverse participation. Her dedication to mentoring and promoting diversity has made a substantial impact within and beyond her organization.

Omobolanle Olowu

Head of Risk & Security, West and Central Africa
BAT

Omobolanle Olowu is the Head of Risk & Security for West and Central Africa at BAT. Under her leadership, the Women in BAT network has been pivotal in delivering DEI initiatives, supporting ESG priorities, and championing gender diversity. Omobolanle played a key role in founding the BAT Women in Security forum, creating a safe community for women in security and advocating for increased representation from women. This initiative has empowered women through mentorship, opportunities to speak at key events, and fostering male allyship. Additionally, Omobolanle co-founded the Women's Chapter for the ASIS Women in Security Network, driving the ASIS "NextGen" program to attract young women security professionals. Omobolanle’s efforts have been recognized through various speaking engagements, including a fireside chat for International Women's Day 2024 and features in local news publications, highlighting her impact on gender diversity and inclusion in the security sector.

Kelly Wen

Director, Head of Treasury Advisory
BNY

At the intersection of business and technology, Kelly is a thought-leader in treasury strategy and transformation helping Fortune 500 companies unlock working capital and improve operational efficiency. Kelly spearheaded the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) Spotlights that has become a marquee series, offering unique insights across topics such as data-driven decision-making, risk-taking, and cross-cultural leadership. Kelly is also Co-Chair for the Asian Leadership Forum that empowers Asian-American career development. In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Kelly created the talk series "From the Tao to Now”, showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese culture to promote cross-cultural dialogue. She supports the Asian University for Women (AUW) by mentoring students, contributing to the AUW Scholarship Fund, and participating in industry fundraisers. Kelly is also active in Women in Payments through her participating in industry panels for intergenerational allyship and developing Gen Z talent.

Catherine Castillo

Director
Codertal

Catherine Castillo is the Director at Codertal, Machine Ventures, Supertap, and mykuya, and also works as a care provider at Forenede Care. As a Global Ambassador of WomenTech Network, she promotes gender diversity in tech through talks, community publications, and mentorship programs that empower women in the industry. Catherine further mentors young women in IT for Youth Ghana, helping bridge the gender gap with guidance and resources. Locally, she co-leads Cooking for Integration in Ängelholm, Sweden, an initiative that fosters diversity and community integration through food. Recently, Catherine was named one of Digital Women’s 60 Women to Watch in 2024 and is a finalist in the Digital Women Awards for the Digital Woman for Good Category. These accolades highlight her dedication to driving positive change, advancing women’s empowerment, and enhancing community well-being.

Stefanie Carpenter

Relationship Director
Fidelity International

In addition to her role as a Relationship Director, Stefanie has taken on leadership positions that directly contribute to promoting Gender Balance and inclusivity on a broader scale. As Global Gender Balance Co-Chair, she supports the global DEI strategy through the development of the Gender Balance action plan and leading the country networks/communities. She has a passion for increasing women's representation in distribution roles. This has involved reviewing data, discussing challenges and opportunities with business leaders, and scoping the next steps to create an inclusive culture through discussion groups and awareness-raising events. Through collaboration with stakeholders, this network has developed and implemented activities and programs that foster Gender Balance locally and globally. Stefanie has also been the Chair of a performance netball club for the past six years, creating an environment that promotes equity, celebrates diversity, and ensures that all players, regardless of their backgrounds, can participate and thrive

Tiffany Manteaw

Data Culture Senior Manager
Lloyds Banking Group

Tiffany Manteaw is a Senior Manager in Data Culture at Lloyds Banking Group. Driven by possibility, Tiffany advocates for the removal of barriers to access for underrepresented and z demographics. As co-lead of the Women in Data network, she leads a group of women promoting data careers through creative engagement campaigns. Recently, Tiffany organized an internal all-day skills-building event to help women future-proof their careers by building tech skills. This initiative increased registrations for tech skills learning among women who never considered themselves 'technical.' Tiffany regularly speaks at events, advocating for women to take bold career steps and serves as a role model for emerging talent. Over the past two years, Tiffany has mentored and coached over 100 women, empowering them to believe in themselves. Tiffany volunteers with the ICanYouCanToo program, serving as a role model to aspiring youth, and has coached founders on the Foundervine Immerse Accelerator program.

Diane Chan

Director, Senior Group Manger
BNY

Diane Chan, Director and Senior Group Manager at BNY Mellon, is a first-generation woman of color and Computer Science graduate. She has achieved certificates in Project Management Professional, Scrum Master, and SAFE Agilist. Diane provides mentorship to diverse individuals, from students to experienced professionals, helping them reach their career goals. She is a proven leader in BNY Mellon's Employee Resource Groups and serves on the executive council for the Women's Initiative Network and Women in Engineering. Diane also co-chairs IMPACT NY/NY, promoting cultural education and engagement. Her commitment to diversity has increased her team's diversity by 300% since 2022. As a PMI NYC board member, she mentors, supports, and organizes community service events. Diane’s leadership extends to creating events that foster inclusivity and support women's career advancement. Recognized by NPower for her volunteer service, Diane continues to inspire and create networks of women and male allies.

Simran Khokha

Product Manager
Infineon Technologies

Simran Khokha, Product Manager at Infineon Technologies, has been a pivotal advocate for diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. Her mentorship role at United Women Singapore empowers young girls in science and technology, while her foundational work in establishing STMicroelectronics' first women's network creates a supportive environment for womenemployees. At Infineon, she actively participates in the "Future Work" initiative and volunteers in the women's network and Lean In, fostering a culture of inclusion. As Hardware Tech Lead at Women Who Code Singapore since 2018, Simran has organized numerous workshops and events to uplift women in tech. Her mentorship extends to Girls in Tech and NTU WIT WOMENtors Summit 2024, where she shares her expertise to guide aspiring women technologists. Simran has significantly contributed to advancing diversity and inclusion through these initiatives, inspiring women to pursue and excel in tech careers.

Jody Zhou

Audit Director
KPMG

From China to Chicago to London, Jody’s global experiences have shaped her advocacy for inclusion. Alongside her role as Audit Director at KPMG, Jody serves as Co-Chair of KPMG Network of Women (“KNOW”) in London, driving initiatives to support gender diversity and women’s career advancement. During the pandemic, Jody co-led a series of International Women’s Day events focused on work-life balance and career success pathways, engaging nearly 1,000 participants online overall. Last year, she led discussions with industry leaders on innovative job-sharing models, sparking vital conversations on flexible working. Beyond KPMG, Jody actively contributed to the Professional Women Network (PWN) London between 2022-2023. Partnering with corporate stakeholders, she played a leading role in driving discussions on professional growth, systemic inequities, and the gender pay gap. Additionally, she dedicates time to support and inspire the next generation of female leaders, reinforcing her dedication to fostering a more equitable and inclusive environment.

Jordan Pearson

Senior Design Analyst
Lloyds Banking Group

Jordan is a Senior Design Analyst with extensive experience across leading tech companies and banks. Throughout her career, she has saved companies six figures annually and significantly enhanced the customer experience for millions by leveraging data and driving innovative solutions. Beyond her professional achievements, Jordan is passionately committed to youth development, having volunteered with over 1,000 young people. She was also instrumental in launching Lloyds Bank's first virtual work experience program, introducing 11-14-year-olds to data and sparking their interest in tech careers. As the founder of Jordansgirlcode.com, Jordan supports women in tech through engaging blogs, and plans to develop comprehensive learning materials. She is an advocate for STEM education, sharing her expertise at conferences and workshops, and mentoring young women to guide them in making informed career choices. Jordan's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry is breaking down barriers and inspiring the next generation.

Nadja Toeller

Associate Manager Private Capital and Corporate M&A
Oliver Wyman

Nadja Toeller, Manager at Oliver Wyman, is a dedicated advocate for gender diversity. As a member of Women at Oliver Wyman, WOW, she has contributed significantly to the recruitment of women talent, mentorship, and promoting women focused programs within the entire company and her practice. Nadja mentors women students and interns, participates in reverse mentoring programs, and supports her colleagues in applying gender diversity learnings. Recently, she has been appointed to the global co-lead of Oliver Wyman’s Women Network, where she influences global gender strategies, holds leadership accountable to targets, builds community, promotes role models, and creates targeted training programs. Nadja is also a shareholder and member of the German women network Ten More In, aiming to increase women CEOs within DAX and other companies. She serves on the expert jury of the German Founder's Award for students and will be featured in a German newspaper article on her development since winning the award herself.

Somya Qureshi

Director of Marketing and New Business Development
Reynolds American

Somya Qureshi is the Director of Marketing and New Business Development at Reynolds American Inc. She passionately mentors and advocates for women, helping them build confidence and advance their careers. As co-lead of the Women's ERG at Reynolds American, she organizes programs supporting women's self-advocacy and development. For Women's History Month in March 2024, Somya moderated a panel of senior women executives, receiving positive feedback for making the discussion invaluable. Additionally, she spoke at the cultural competence panel for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, sharing her career journey to inspire others. Somya engages with the REACH Women's Network, speaking at their annual conferences, assisting the Marketing Committee, and managing their summer intern. She actively contributed to the launch of Intrapreneurs Forum in January 2024, provides mentorship to students at Salem College and mentors at Winston-Starts to lend her marketing expertise to entrepreneurs

Tanja Velling

Tax PSL Counsel
Slaughter and May

From 2017 to mid-2024, Tanja was the Chair and co-Chair of Slaughter and May’s Gender Equality Network (GEN), growing the network to over 100 members. In this role, she has been involved in the organization of various campaigns and events to create a sense of community and raise awareness. These included informal networking sessions, informational and inspirational talks, an art exhibition to celebrate International Women’s Day, panel events to demystify different career journeys in the legal sector and breast cancer awareness campaigns. Tanja also spearheaded the organisation of a joint International Women’s Day celebration for Women in Tax and certain other organizations in the UK tax sector, tutors maths as part of the Access Project and has been a mentor through various schemes, including the 30% Club’s cross-company mentoring program.

Céline Ventalon

CEO & Founder
EMER

Céline Ventalon is the CEO and Founder of Emer, a leading brand in sustainable menstrual health solutions in Southeast Asia. Under her leadership, Emer's recruitment strategy has empowered women, with over 60% of leadership positions held by women, fostering a culture of innovation, employee satisfaction, and community spirit. Beyond her role at Emer, Céline is a passionate advocate for menstrual health and sustainability, conducting free workshops in schools, medical centers, and companies like Standard Chartered Bank and Toyota.Céline partnered with Thao Nhi Le to amplify Emer's message of women’s empowerment and has been a featured speaker at events such as the ABCs of Entrepreneurship in Hanoi. Her work has been highlighted in notable publications including Dep Magazine, NỮ DOANH NHÂN - BusinessWoman Magazine, and Harper's Bazaar, and she has gained further recognition through her participation in Shark Tank Vietnam.In addition to her entrepreneurial efforts, Céline is actively working with NGOs to provide washable menstrual pads to rural communities, helping to address menstrual health challenges in underserved areas. Her dedication to social impact extends to promoting diversity and inclusion, fostering a more informed and empowered community.

Veena Patel

Executive Director, Senior Counsel
Rabobank

Veena Patel is an Executive Director and Senior Counsel at Rabobank, leading diversity, and inclusion initiatives. As co-founder and chair of RaboTogether, the sole DEI employee-run network in the London Branch, she has spearheaded "daring conversations" on diversity and equity and provided training to address women's inequities in financial services. Veena’s efforts have significantly raised the importance of women's diversity and inclusion within the bank and influenced DEI strategies across business units. Veena champions promoting women to senior positions and supports "We Can Be," an initiative by the Lord Mayor's Appeal to inspire young women from low socioeconomic backgrounds to work in the City of London. Veena has also shared her experiences on DEI panels like the SFNet Next Gen panel. Drawing from her background as an Indian woman from a low socioeconomic family, she connects with and inspires others, highlighting the need to nurture diverse talent in the workplace.

Doreen Irungu

CEO
Ustawi Afrika

Doreen Irungu is the Executive Chairperson of Ustawi Afrika, where she leads efforts to champion women’s diversity and inclusion in agriculture. Through Ustawi Afrika, she empowers women in rural, forgotten semi-arid regions by providing training in regenerative farming, water harvesting, and climate-smart agriculture. Ustawi Afrika has fostered women’s economic empowerment in these communities, enabling rural women to mitigate the harsh impacts of climate change while closing the economic gap. Doreen has shared these transformative initiatives at major international platforms like Katapult Future Fest in Oslo and the African Women in Technology Conference. As the African Coordinator for NAWFAT, she supports women entrepreneurs in agritech and has established mentorship programs for young professionals. Doreen is also a 2024 Leading African Women in Agriculture Fellowship Fellow, a 2024 TechWomen Fellow, and a 2024 World Food Prize TAP Pioneer, recognized for her work in advancing gender equality and technology in agriculture.

Julie Cheng

Principal
Warburg Pincus

Julie Cheng is a Principal at Warburg Pincus focused on technology and healthcare investing. She has been actively involved in a number of initiatives since joining the firm over a decade ago. As a steering committee member of Women @ Warburg, a global network for the firm's ~300 female identifying professionals, she has helped organize golf outings, poker practices, speaker sessions with US ambassadors, and more. Julie was also a member of the inaugural DE&I Council focused on recruiting diverse talent and she is the co-head of the analyst recruiting program. For the past several years, analyst classes have been ~half women and ~1/4-1/3 under-represented diversity. Outside of work, Julie is a junior committee member for New Chamber Ballet, a not-for-profit ballet company that is unique for it's pairing of women dancers and is dedicated to the creation of new ballets performed to live chamber music.

Jill Chrencik

Senior Principal Scientist
Merck

Jill Chrencik is the Principal Scientist at Merck. Over two years as co-lead of the SSF Women's Network, she initiated inspiring talks spotlighting women in science. She launched the impactful #IAmRemarkable campaign, expanding its reach globally within the organization. Jill's unwavering commitment extends to gender balance within her department. As the driving force behind the CSC Women's Committee, she introduced campaigns fostering support, public speaking skills, and diversity awareness. Her initiatives have been pivotal in creating a more inclusive environment. Jill's impact reaches beyond her organization. She spearheads diversity initiatives at conferences like SACNAS and NOBCChE, advocating for the next generation of scientists. Active within the HBA, she empowers women, and her engagement with local schools and Girl Scouts exemplifies her dedication to inspiring STEM interest in young minds.

Sarah Scott

GPS Systems of Record Director
Fidelity International

Sarah Scott is the GPS Systems of Record Director at Fidelity International and was appointed UK Gender Balance Network Regional Lead in September 2022. Under her leadership, UK Network memberships have grown to over 180 members. Sarah established a working group for event planning, organized men's wellbeing and mental health events, and led successful International Women's Day (IWD) initiatives. Sarah founded a gender balance working group within WPFH technology, focusing on talent acquisition, support, and retention, leading to simplified job descriptions and new hiring processes. Sarah has mentored women through the "Code First Girls" initiative and participated in global mentoring sessions for women in technology. Additionally, she is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group member and supports underprivileged girls through a corporate reading program. Sarah has sponsored girls globally through Plan International for over 20 years, promoting their health, well-being, and education.

Vidyullatha Allapally

Program and Project Management , Senior Manager, Advanced Technology Centers, India
Accenture

Vidyullatha Allapally, a Senior Manager in Program and Project Management at Accenture, has made impactful contributions to advancing women's careers through gender upskilling and community elevation initiatives. She has empowered women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds through the Aarambh Inclusive Internship Program and has spearheaded technology upskill programs to support women's career growth. She has represented Accenture in client conversations and external events, showcasing gender-inclusive initiatives, building strong partnerships. Recognized as an Inclusion & Diversity Changemaker, she has designed and executed seven programs in collaboration with HR, Legal, and other teams. She launched a mentorship program for women-led micro social enterprises across rural India, connecting them with Accenture leaders to sustain their businesses and create additional employment opportunities for women in their communities. As a keynote speaker at the Global Apprentice Network event, she emphasized Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Quality Apprenticeships, underscoring her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.

Shanelle Lasala

Growth & Content Marketing Manager
Architech

Shanelle Lasala is a B2B marketing expert dedicated to promoting equity and inclusion for women and underrepresented groups. As Content & Growth Marketing Manager, Co-Chair of the Inclusion Council, and the community pillar lead for the Women in Tech Committee at Architech, she launched impactful initiatives, including organizing a fundraiser in collaboration with the Princess Margaret Foundation, hosting a 'Breast Cancer 101' webinar, and fundraising for breast cancer research. Shanelle champions Black History Month initiatives at Architech, including a conversation on Black hair discrimination, and the bias Black individuals experience in corporate settings, and organizing a company-wide virtual tour of the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History. Beyond her role at Architech, Shanelle has been a featured content creator for BPTN's Global Tech Summit and recognized as a thought leader on BPTN’s Tech Talks podcast. She is a trailblazer in fostering an inclusive and empowering environment in the tech industry.

Anna Dilku

Senior Creative Content Manager
Aviva

Anna Dilku is a dynamic Senior Creative Content Manager at Aviva and a leading voice in diversity and inclusion. With a proven track record of driving positive change, Anna has been recognized with prestigious accolades including Women in Finance's Outstanding Contribution Award and Advertising Week’s Future is Female Award. As the first elected co-chair of Aviva Balance, Anna cultivated a culture of inclusivity within the organization and used that experience to promote intersectionality in Aviva Origins, which subsequently won Inclusive Companies’ Outstanding Employee Network Award. Beyond Aviva, she is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, sharing her expertise on platforms like Change the Race Ratio and MAD//Fest. Anna has been a UN Women delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women for 4 years, extending her impact further. Anna's passion for empowering others is evident in her mentorship and advocacy work, making her an influential force in the industry.

Letoyia Horton

Claims Focus Group Leader – Employment Practices Liability (EPL)
Beazley

Letoyia Horton, Claims Focus Group Leader for Employment Practices Liability (EPL) at Beazley, champions diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal community. She has led initiatives to include more women, minority, and LGBTQ+ owned law firms and promote diverse legal teams. As co-host of BeazleyRace’s D&IQ podcast, Letoyia addresses DEI, gender, mental health, and LGBTQ+ issues, with a notable series on the pandemic's impact on mental health for people of color. Leading the eSg Working Group, she partnered with the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and piloted 11 women and minority-owned firms. Letoyia has driven internal workshops and collaborated with Diversity Lab's Diversity Dividends to improve law firm diversity. She also initiated Beazley's participation in Diversity Lab's 2024 Hackathon to defend DEI across the industry and ensure fair access to opportunities for underrepresented lawyers.

Ana Arias

Director, Head of Corporate Trust Iberia, Madrid Branch Manager
BNY

Ana Arias is the Director and Head of Corporate Trust Iberia and Madrid Branch Manager at BNY. For the past seven years, she has led the WIN Madrid Team, tripling membership and fostering a supportive environment through weekly calls focused on professional experiences, mentoring, and personal development.Ana organized impactful sessions on personal finance, conversations with women leaders, and unconscious bias coaching, enhancing internal visibility and skills. As part of BNY's International Women's Day celebration, she coordinated local events promoting inclusion and networking. Ana also promoted the creation of "WIN Madrid Men Allyship" and encouraged participation in Women in Banking (WIB) working groups. She played a key role in establishing WIB Spain, securing support from major financial institutions, and serving on the WIB Governance group. Ana's efforts have significantly advanced diversity and inclusion, making a lasting impact within BNY and the broader financial sector.

Maria Chittenden

Head of Transport
Booker

Maria Chittenden is the Head of Transport at Booker Distribution and a founding member of the Women's Network - which launched on International Women's Day in 2023 and champions female colleagues across the business’ branches, distribution centres and offices. Under her leadership, the network has already made a positive impact across Booker, hosting events including a Women's Career Panel with women executives, an Allyship event, a mental health-focused International Men's Day session and bite-sized learning sessions to support career development. Maria’s support has helped women feel better represented within the wholesale industry, emphasized the importance of male allyship and provided vital insights to the Executive team. Maria actively participates in DE&I industry events and speaks at external forums, including Tesco events. Her efforts are featured in the national wholesale press and she utilizes customer magazines to inspire change, reaching over 15,000 businesses bi-monthly. Maria also sponsors initiatives like Andy's Man Club livery on Booker’s HGV vehicles, promoting broader DEI in the external space.

Nike Onakoya

Sustainable Development & AIS Manager
Diageo

Nike Onakoya is the Sustainable Development & AIS Manager at Diageo and an Executive Committee member of Nigeria's Spirited Women Network, a Diageo ERG that fosters career development, provides support for advancement, and serves as a catalyst for inspiring women across the business. Nike was instrumental in developing Diageo's Menopause Guideline and served as a market ambassador for the guideline. She also leads Diageo's Inclusion & Diversity agenda within the host community and spearheads the annual women-focused Plan W initiative at Guinness Nigeria. Beyond Diageo, Nike has partnered with local charity Sight Savers Nigeria, achieving improved gender parity and representation of people with disabilities. At the 2024 Nigeria Diversity & Inclusion Conference, Nike highlighted Guinness Nigeria’s efforts, earning recognition from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

Eleonora Munsh

Head of Learning and Development in Western and Central Asia
EPAM

Eleonora Munsh is the Head of Learning and Development for Western and Central Asia at EPAM Systems. With a deep understanding of her region's cultural and religious specificities, Eleonora has significantly increased the representation of women and underrepresented groups within the organization. Eleonora leads the Women@EPAM group, providing mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to support women in technology. Eleonora also spearheads the #IAmRemarkable Facilitators Community, creating an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Eleonora’s initiatives have driven a cultural shift within EPAM, with increased participation in diversity programs and more leaders advocating for inclusive practices. Eleonora is also a frequent speaker and moderator at DEI events, contributing to effective strategies and support networks for all employees. Additionally, Eleonora has been involved in projects like IT-AIEL, providing women with free online training in digital skills to achieve financial stability.

Ahanna Anaba

Head of Sales and Partnerships
Finverity

With a track record of implementing trade finance programmes across the EMEA region, Ahanna is deeply committed to promoting gender diversity in the Trade Finance industry. In 2023, she founded the Women in Trade Network to connect and empower women in African Trade Finance. The network has focused on creating opportunities for networking in and around Africa. Additionally, the network has provided public speaking, voice and confidence coaching sessions for over 300 senior banking and finance leaders globally in collaboration with global trade platforms such as GTR and ITFA. Ahanna actively participates in initiatives that promote gender and youth diversity, with a focus on amplifying the African voice in trade finance. Her efforts have earned her recognition in Brummell Magazine’s 2023 Inspirational Women list, BWAM's #40Under40 award, She Leads Africa’s Top 50 Rising Motherland Moguls, and multiple nominations in the Digital Women 2024 awards.

Lorna Ive

Programmatic Executive/ Client Solutions Executive
GroupM

Lorna Ive is a distinguished Programmatic Executive at GroupM Nexus EMEA and an active chair of the GEN Employee Resource Group. She is recognised for her award-winning menopause awareness campaigns and serves as an Ambassador for Visible Start. Lorna is a key figure in WPP’s Menopause Steer Co, focusing on education and advice across the agencies. She has been pivotal in developing resources to educate both men and younger women in the workplace about menopause, contributing to WPP’s ‘more than a woman’s issue’ initiative and video montage. Her commitment to raising awareness and change is evident through her organization of various events including ‘Women in Tech’, ‘Menopause and Cardiovascular Health’ and ‘We’re not sick’ events, which address the intersection of health and work for women. Additionally, she facilitates engagements with trans professionals, addressing their unique industry challenges. Lorna’s impactful work has made her a finalist for the Involve Heroes 2024 Awards.

Nadia Radulovich

Head of Transaction Monitoring Operations, Argentina
HSBC

Nadia is the Head of Transaction Monitoring at HSBC Bank Argentina. In 2017, she became a member of the local HSBC ERG, empowering colleagues globally to achieve gender balance. She held different roles within this ERG: she led the Networking and the Communications workstreams in 2021 and 2022 respectively; she became the ERG President in 2021. Under her leadership, the ERG delivered over 45 initiatives promoting leadership, sustainability, networking, coaching, allyship, and cancer awareness targeting the Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. In 2023, she joined the Global ERG Exco, leading the Learning & Development Workstream. Beyond HSBC, she is part of the Vital Voices South Cone network, where she participated as a mentee in "Women Leaders Program" and now engages in different mentoring activities. Nadia's dedication to women's advancement is evident as she completes the cycle by serving as an HSBC Mentor, guiding colleagues and her team in their career progression.

Jessica Hazel Lising

Delivery Manager
IBM

Jessica co-leads two of IBM’s BRGs for ASEAN+Korea, where she is involved in numerous initiatives, including providing support for breastfeeding moms to deliver breast milk from the office to home, providing a mother's wellness room, developing a transgender bathroom policy, and introducing first-of-its-kind coverage for gender affirmation treatment. Externally, Jessica has joined Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP), advocating for women who identify as LGBTQ+ and their allies. From Jessica's work with IBM’s BRGs, IBM won the Asia CEO Awards among the most diverse companies in Asia Diversity. Company of the Year in 2019 and Circle of Excellence Awardee for the Diversity Employer of the Year in 2020.

Amal Khatib

Associate
Oliver Wyman

Amal Khatib is an Associate at Oliver Wyman in London. She was recognized on the 2022 Involve Heroes Future Leaders Role Model list for her leadership of gender equity initiatives. At the Involve Gala in March 2023, Amal connected with a passionate colleague, co-founding an initiative to champion women’s health in the firm, which quickly gained significant grassroots traction. Since then, Amal co-led three impactful sessions. The first focused on the women's health market and recent innovations, attracting 40 attendees. The second featured a fertility and infertility expert and engaged 100 attendees, including men. The third was an intimate discussion on menstrual cycles. This effort caught the CEO’s attention, leading to the sponsorship of a pilot program in London to assess women's health gaps at the firm. Additionally, Amal, along with her private capital colleagues, delivered training sessions on pre-deal diligence for female private equity professionals in collaboration with Level20.

Mallory Allen

Product Manager
WizeHive

Mallory Allen, a Product Manager at WizeHive, is a driving force behind establishing the company's Women in Tech employee resource group. Mallory has set innovative goals and actively improved the work environment through consistent check-ins and personalized guidance. Her commitment to empowering individuals to find their voice and communicate effectively has cultivated a supportive and inclusive work environment. Mallory's impact extends to strategic initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization. Leveraging data-driven insights from employees, she has successfully built buy-in from the Executive team, resulting in several internal DEI initiatives, including an Annual Culture Celebration Event, Employee Resource Group Charters and a proper reporting process with HR.. Outside of work. Mallory's dedication to social justice is evident through her involvement in the Rockford Women's Club, where she supports initiatives like the NWVU Rockford SheVets Philanthropic Project.

Glaucia Balvedi

Senior Researcher
Boeing

Glaucia Balvedi is a Senior Researcher at Boeing Research & Technology, and Chair of BWIL (Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership) Latin America. She launched and leads the first BRG in Boeing Brazil, and also serves as the Brazilian region's Boeing SWE (Society of Women Engineers) Site Focal. Glaucia mediates the advertising of the Return to Flight program through the local SWE chapter, participates in recruitment campaigns to encourage diverse applicants, and promotes internal events to drive SWE membership among new hires. She actively represents Boeing at global events, advocating for women in leadership within the aviation industry and working to consolidate a SWE affiliate at Boeing Brazil. Glaucia attended the SWE Mentoring Program, where she mentors young women engineers, fostering the next generation of leaders in the field. Glaucia’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion has made a significant impact within Boeing and the broader aerospace community.

Ellen Harrison

Senior Quality Manager
Boeing

Ellen Harrison is a Senior Quality Manager at Boeing, leading the organization's D&I Organizational Committee. In this role, she has supported implementation of women-friendly policies, such as the Return Flight Program, targeting mid-career individuals, particularly women returning to work after a hiatus. The program has successfully transitioned participants to full-time employment. Ellen also established a group of STEM Ambassadors, expanding the network to inspire over 67,000 students, focusing on encouraging girls and women to pursue STEM careers. As President of the Enterprise Board for Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership (BWIL), Ellen advocates for women across 35 global chapters, developing an online program for over 8,000 members. She attends Women in Defence UK summits to share best practices and support the pledge to increase women in defense to 30% by 2030. Additionally, Ellen volunteers with The Girls' Network, mentoring young girls to realize their potential as well as supporting women military veterans.

Lauren Neal

Senior Project Engineer
BP

Lauren is a Senior Project Engineer at bp, where she co-chaired one of bp's regional Women's International Networks. Within two years, under her guidance, network membership surged from 12 to over 200 participants, encompassing both genders. She mentors several young professional women, offering guidance and networking opportunities, including visits to construction sites to gain exposure to lesser-known sectors. As a Founder of her own business ‘Valued at Work’, Lauren works with organisations to create workplace cultures where no one wants to leave. Her speaking engagements empower women, including the "EveryWoman in Tech Forum," sharing career transition advice. A multi-award winner, Lauren's accolades include WeAreTheCity Rising Stars and WeAreTechWomen awards. Her features in media outlets such as Forbes, Business Leader, Startups and Stylist, and her best-selling book, "Valued at Work: Shining a Light on Bias to Engage, Enable and Retain Women in STEM," demonstrate her commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces.

Nana Odom

Head of Clinical Engineering
Cleveland Clinic London

Nana Odom, the Head of Clinical Engineering at Cleveland Clinic London, excels in bridging the gap between medicine and technology. Her work includes implementing innovative medical devices and advocating for adoption of patient monitoring and other integrated platforms. Nana's collaborative approach involves partnerships with caregivers, manufacturers, patients, and administrators. Beyond her remarkable technical achievements, Nana is a strong advocate for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or females considering Tech careers. She firmly believes in the importance of visible role models in our communities and workplaces. Nana promotes gender diversity through mentorship, public speaking, and industry initiatives. Her dedication to breaking barriers has led to increased female representation in her team. In 2018, Nana established and chaired the Black Minority Ethnic (BME) ERG at RUH NHSFT, providing a community of support with executive sponsorship. Her leadership underscores her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, inspiring future generations of women engineers.

Linartes “Lites” M. Viloria

National Project Coordinator
International Labour Organization

Linartes Viloria is a National Project Coordinator at the International Labour Organization. For the last 15 years, through her work in government, the private sector, non-profits and in international organizations, Linartes has worked to open opportunities for marginalized groups through education, training and employment. She has led partnership and communication initiatives at Bikes for the Philippines Foundation to provide bike access to young learners in remote areas in the Philippines. In her work on gender equality and disability inclusion, she lead the creation of the first Disability Inclusion for Technical Vocational Education (TVET) Toolkit in the Philippines. Linartes also led the development of innovative training modules for Indigenous Peoples in Aklan and coordinated the ILO-JP Morgan Women in STEM 2024 project, promoting female role models in STEM through hybrid webinars and workshops. Her efforts extended to supporting women migrant workers during the critical post-COVID-19 period, mentoring women entrepreneurs, and job preparation for women in STEM-related occupations. For the past decade Linartes has promoted STEM women champions, served on selection committees for innovation grants, and spoke widely in the Philippines and across ASEAN on these topics. Linartes has been instrumental in advocating for gender inclusion and empowering women in the digital economy, science, and entrepreneurship sectors.

Haihong Zhou

Director, Drug Discovery Scientist
Merck

Haihong Zhou is a Director, Drug Discovery Scientist at Merck. Over two years as the Vice President of Education for Merck Toastmasters Club 260, she was a strong advocate for speaking up, particularly for women in science. Haihong actively mentored colleagues across organizations globally to build confidence in leadership development. As the co-sponsor of the CSC Women’s Committee and a member of the QB Career Development Committee, she organized multiple high-impact workshops to promote self-advocacy and career development. Haihong was invited as a panelist in a Diversity Inclusion Conversation event. She has delivered talks on the discovery of insulin receptor partial agonists as a potential treatment for diabetes, particularly for low-income populations, at the Sino-American Pharmaceutical Association Annual Meeting. Additionally, Haihong has served as a speech contest judge for the District in Toastmasters International and contributed to breaking down barriers in the local community.

Nima Kalathil

Engineering Manager
National Grid

Nima Kalathil is an Engineering Manager at National Grid and chairs the Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG). She advocates for career advancement and the well-being of women employees, organizing professional development programs to boost confidence and skills. Nima initiated the Women-in-Networks (WiN) Squad peer-to-peer mentoring program, fostering connections and support among colleagues. Under her leadership, women’s ERG launched two in-person women's summit for professional development and networking. Nima actively participates in leadership meetings to raise awareness about women's issues, resulting in a stronger commitment to increasing representation. Nima facilitated a pay equity conversation session, empowering employees to understand and advocate for gender pay equity. As an ambassador for the Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology (WEST) Organization, Nima promotes events and sponsors women employees. She also collaborates with Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and external organizations to conduct workshops and advocate for women in the industry.

Bhuvaneswari Srinivasan

Head of Trade Operations, India
NatWest Group

Bhuvaneswari Srinivasan is the Head of Trade Operations, India at NatWest. As one of the leads of the MentorHer initiative, she has significantly contributed to reciprocal mentoring, increasing mentor pairings by 45% and overall mentorship registration by 110% in 2023. Bhuvaneswari’s efforts have led to 88% of women mentors attributing their career advancements to this program. Bhuvaneswari also played a key role in the Gender Network Development Programme, with 83% of participants building confidence and 72% feeling confident about applying for promotions. She launched a six-month Sponsorship Programme for senior women colleagues, aimed at fostering career growth. As a Gold Tier Facilitator for the IAmRemarkable workshops, she has empowered 98% of participants to self-promote confidently. Leading a Lean In Circles for the past four years, she has supported career progression for colleagues and continues to mentor even those who have left the organization, aiding in their personal development and career transitions.

Chinenye Ajayi

Team Lead, Power and Infrastructure Practice
Olaniwun Ajayi LP

Chinenye Ajayi is a Managing Associate and the Team Lead for the Power and Infrastructure Practice at Olaniwun Ajayi LP and has contributed significantly to Firm’s initiatives including contributing to the Firm’s 2024 mentorship manual, guiding women on work-life balance and has mentored three women over the past two years. She is the convener of “Reignite”, a program set up to help women discover their potentials and live purposeful lives. As a co-founder of Solfa Power Limited, 80% of her team are women, with 40% of customers being women thereby promoting diversity and inclusion by championing women's leadership and fostering a culture of inclusivity. Chinenye also promotes participation from women whilst volunteering with several organizations in the energy sector including the Energy Institute, Young Professionals Network and the Africa Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders (AFYEL). Chinenye has contributed to various seminars and conferences, promoting women's career and personal success.

Caroline Clark

Lead Manager Product Process PMO 
Reynolds American

Caroline Clark, Lead Manager Product Process PMO at Reynolds American, has significantly enhanced women's diversity and inclusion over the past two years. As co-lead for the Women's ERG since March 2022, she organized developmental events for over 480 members, growing the group's size by 20%. Caroline's efforts extend beyond event management to active participation in volunteer work and fundraising with community nonprofits, emphasizing social responsibility. Her contributions to the Women in BAT board have influenced internal policies, reflecting a strong commitment to women's inclusion. Caroline's comprehensive strategy has enriched corporate culture, positioning Reynolds American as a leader in advocating for an inclusive workplace. Her community service includes supporting LEAD Girls of NC and participating in various charitable activities to foster a supportive environment for women and girls in underrepresented fields.

Courtney Cox

Test Engineer
Sky

Courtney Cox, Test Engineer at Sky, GirlCode Ambassador and Sky TECHWomen Rep and co-lead for the Building a Community Pillar organising events, newsletters, and communications to foster an active community of women in tech and male allies. Recently, Courtney helped to plan and organize the LIFT As We Climb Summit in Leeds, an event hosted by Sky, Vodafone, and IBM, focusing on career navigation and progression for women in tech. Courtney is also part of the Diversity and Inclusion Leeds group, organizing initiatives to create an inclusive environment. She participated in an all-day event with Next Tech Girls, providing women students insights into tech careers. As a Code First Girls Alumna and Fellowship Program graduate, she taught web development and mentors future leaders. Additionally, Courtney has won the Diversity and Inclusion Power List award in 2023 and listed on the Northern Power Women Future List 2024 for her contributions.

Marion Bentata

Chief Administrative Officer
State Street

Marion Bentata is a Chief Administrative Officer for Global Technology Services at State Street and a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion. As a Steering Committee Member of the State Street's UK Pride Network, she leads initiatives to raise awareness around LGBTQ+ issues both inside and outside of State Street. In March 2024, Marion organized her company's flagship DEI event for International Women's Day, featuring renowned voice coach Patsy Rodenburg OBE to raise women’s voices within the company and beyond. In 2019, Marion founded Women of InterBank to increase the visibility and representation of women in a predominantly cis-white male environment. Marion organizes regular networking events and dedicated activities to foster a sense of community among women and non-binary individuals. Marion also actively participates in panels discussing LGBTQ+ women's issues, writes for publications like DIVA Magazine, and is regulary featured in marketing campaigns such as Mindr's Pride Month. Overall, Marion’s efforts have led to a significant increase in the visibility of LGBTQ+ women in financial services in London.

Frankie Lydford

Category Buying Manager
Tesco

Frankie Lydford is the Category Buying Manager at Tesco and has led the Gender Equality network for the past 2.5 years. Under Frankie's leadership, the network's steerco, comprising 20 dedicated colleagues, has driven significant change with support from senior leaders. Focused on enhancing the representation of women at all levels, the network challenges the business to set effective targets and policies for women talent. Frankie rebranded the network from "Women" to "Gender Equality" to emphasize broader gender inclusivity and the importance of allyship. Initiatives include career spotlight events, personal development tools, and health education, mainly through quarterly menopause cafés with guest speakers. The network's efforts have increased engagement and boosted women in leadership. Frankie also engages with other businesses and industries, exchanging insights and strategies to further gender equality. These efforts have significantly enhanced the presence and participation of women from various backgrounds, positively impacting our employees and corporate culture.

Ashley Drewery

Global Special Projects Director, Tech & Digital Advantage Practice
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Ashley Drewery is the Global Special Projects Director for BCG’s Tech & Digital Advantage Practice. In addition to her Tech & Digital role, Ashley has led the Black+Latinx@BCG Cadre across the West Coast since 2021. She’s passionate about community building and career development, especially for women of color. At the local level, Ashley is an active member of the Bay Area DEI Leadership Team which advances DEI initiatives and enhances the sense of belonging for all staff. Throughout the year, she organizes and regularly hosts impactful events. One recent highlight was a fireside chat with Dr. Gina Fromer, President and CEO of GLIDE Foundation, centered on advocating for women of color in leadership. Ashley is a Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) Career Advancement Program graduate, former Board Director for Old Skool Café, and previous Children & Youth Ministry Director at New Beginnings Community Church.

Lauren Pfendt

Senior Analyst - Portfolio Solutions
WisdomTree

Lauren Pfendt is a Senior Analyst in Portfolio Solutions at WisdomTree Asset Management. Since joining the company in 2022, Lauren has been actively involved in the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), a global network focused on empowering women and promoting inclusivity within the organization. In 2023, Lauren led the WIN Roundtable Committee, facilitating meaningful discussions on a variety of topics including Women in Sports, Closing the Wealth and Investing Gap, and Bridging Generational Gaps in the Workplace. Recently, Lauren expanded her influence by becoming the Deputy Co-Chair of WIN US, where she co-leads monthly meetings, manages subcommittee initiatives, and oversees the broad management of WIN US. Outside of WIN, Lauren is passionate about guiding younger women peers in finance, helping them advocate for equitable compensation and developing confidence in a male-dominated industry. These initiatives highlight Lauren’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment in the workplace and beyond.

Lauren Lyons

Principal in People and Organisational performance (POP) Practice, Financial Services
Oliver Wyman

Lauren Lyons is a Principal in the People and Organisational Performance (POP) practice at Oliver Wyman. During her tenure as the leader of employee resource group- Women at Oliver Wyman (WOW) London, she has successfully raised awareness of unconscious bias and organized roundtable discussions where senior male staff engage with women colleagues of different seniority levels through reverse mentoring. She led a sponsorship ‘lunch and learn’ campaign to educate consulting staff on the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. As a Senior Principal and career advisor, Lauren is a role model, demonstrating that senior positions can coexist with a fulfilling family life. Recognized as a go-to member for internal panels on flexible working and women's sponsorship, she actively contributes to employee resource group- Family Life at Oliver Wyman (FLOW), promoting working practices that support women's development. She is also actively engaged with her clients on the topic, when putting their talent strategies in place.

Yemi Oluseun

Founder - Growth & Digital Transformation Consultant
The Change Hive

Yemi Oluseun is the Founder - Growth & Digital Transformation Consultant at The Change Hive. She designs and implements sales funnels and customer relationship management (CRM) tools that drives growth or enable exit. She champions women's diversity and inclusion through initiatives like entrepreneurship workshops with WeAreTechWomen. As a Venture Partner and UK Help to Grow Business Mentor, Yemi has mentored over 20 women-led start-up founders in male-dominated sectors like tech and finance. She is also a Stanford Seed Business Coach, focusing on scaling strategies and leadership development for women-led startups. Yemi has spoken at high-profile events, including the Thailand FinTech Festival and GITEX FinTech Surge, advocating for gender diversity in tech and financial services. She was recently selected by the US Department of State as an Innovation Fellow.

Paola Maffezzoni

Head of Marketing & Comms - Italy, GroupM; PR & Marketing Director - Italy, WPP
GroupM

Paola – included in the Fortune’s annual list 40under40 (’23) and Forbes’ list Top100 CMOs (’21)- is Operations Director in Italy for Stella project, the global networking group whose purpose is to inspire and enable WPP women to maximize their potential and fuel WPP growth through increased diversity. It collaborates with some industry big players to create initiatives dedicated to DEI. Some of the projects Paola has been responsible for organizing have included a ‘Fast Forward Women’ training with Meta, inspiring women in their careers; a WPP ‘#IAmRemarkable’ workshop with Google Italia; pro-bono activities for women entrepreneurs in the world of technology and to create adv campaigns for associations that support women in troubled countries (e.g. Afghan women). Paola is a mentor for the young generation of marketers, she has been invited to join as speaker to external events, such as WomenXImpact, an event dedicated to women empowerment where she had the chance to be a role model for marketing community

Mital Khona Kaul

Vice President & Client Account Lead– Aerospace & Travel, India
Accenture

Mital Khona Kaul is Vice President - Aerospace & Travel at Accenture India, dedicated to promoting the representation of women across all experience levels. She hosts Teachable Point of View sessions with senior women leaders, discussing career journeys and challenges to inspire younger women. Mital facilitates sessions on attitude upgrade and speed mentoring for work-life integration. As a mentor, she supports women both within and outside her management span and encourages individuals on sabbatical to get back to the workforce. Leading She Loves Data's India Chapter, Mital is instrumental in planning and executing upskilling programs to bridge competence, confidence, and leadership gaps for women in India. She works with her team to bring partnerships to make these programs free, training about 1000 participants till now. With a network nearing 2500 members in India and 20000 world over, She Loves Data provides guidance on various technologies and career paths, aiming to inspire, educate, and support women globally through free tech and data workshops, mentorship, and a supportive community.

Dipti Kulkarni

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Delivery Manager
Bank of America

Dipti Kulkarni is a portfolio delivery manager for the Consumer, Business & Wealth Management Technology team at Bank of America. For more than a decade she has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion (D&I) for the company. Most recently, her passion for inspiring and mentoring women is most evident in her active engagement in LEAD for Women, a BofA internal employee network. Additionally, Dipti has served as a speaker, leader and advocate at LEAD events dedicated to ending domestic violence for the past several years. Externally, she engages with nonprofits to mentor young professional women to help them navigate their careers, and shares insights on overcoming “imposter syndrome.” Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and supporting diverse talent is evident in her multifaceted engagements within and beyond Bank of America.

Helen Owen

Delivery Strategy Manager
National Grid

Helen Owen is the Delivery Strategy Manager at National Grid and has co-led WiNG since January 2023. She has refocused the group's ambition to promote equal opportunities for women professionals and their development and personal success within National Grid in three specific ways: supporting the recruitment of women, advocating on gender issues, and creating a sense of belonging. Under her leadership, WiNG has provided development programs, mentoring, and networking, as well as promoted sponsorship and allyship. The group has also addressed gender issues such as menopause and showcased role models, leading to increased membership and event attendance. Feedback indicates a heightened sense of belonging and better retention. Helen attends POWERful women conferences and events, and was a guest speaker at ReWiRE's 10th birthday celebrations in June 2024. She also supports schools by encouraging diverse students to focus on personal development and consider non-traditional roles through career fairs and assemblies.

Maredith Hannon

Head of Business Development, Digitial Assets
WisdomTree

Maredith Hannon is Head of Business Development for Digital Assets at WisdomTree and a member of the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN). Since 2022, she’s played a pivotal role in WIN’s mentorship program, building educational materials and supporting mentor-mentee relationships. As a former mentee and now a mentor, Maredith leads the Mentorship Committee, conducting interviews and facilitating the best pairings based on professional objectives. She collaborates with the Head of Leadership Development to provide training and has seen approximately 25% of mentees promoted. Maredith is an active Digital Assets and Crypto community member who supports and actively recruits women into the space. Before WisdomTree, she led Morgan Stanley's Women Mentorship program educational efforts for Wealth Management and was a key figure in Merrill Lynch's Women Exchange, connecting over 1,000 women mentors and mentees nationwide. Additionally, Maredith has been a new hire buddy since 2023, supporting new employees throughout their onboarding process.

Ayesha Afzal

Researcher
Erlangen National High Performance Computing Center

Ayesha Afzal, a researcher at the Erlangen National High-Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU), has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and has secured first place in the Ph.D. Forum Award at ISC HIGH PERFORMANCE, showcasing her outstanding work in high-performance computing. Awards such as the WearetheCity’s Global Award for Achievement 2023 and PMBS Best Short Paper Award, as well as her consistent contribution in international conferences and professional societies as a co-chair, committee member, reviewer, and active speaker highlight her commitment to inclusive technology. Ayesha's passion for advancing women in STEM shines through her mentorship efforts and involvement as a founder, ambassador and advisor in initiatives promoting diversity in STEM. Ayesha also inspires scientists and continually promotes technical women by providing them with opportunities and guidance. Her advocacy, interviews, and networking amplify her impact in encouraging women to excel in STEM fields.

Huijie Ma

ADAS Lead Software Engineer
Jaguar Land Rover

Huijie is Chair of the Inclusion Council and holds leading forces from all networks in promoting DEI, created forum for Gender Equality, Women in Engineering and REACH network members, to raise their issues and deliver improvements. She also constructed and maintained a DEI website to promote inclusion, unity forces, and drive actions. She delivered the Mother Nature Lockers initiative, which supplied free sanitary products, menopause support for all women in factory; the project has rolled out to all plants. She presented multiple Lunch & Learns, i.e. Awards for women's work and discuss Colourism. She has given public talks for DEI events and she also actively runs the Name Campaign, using her own story, promote respect for a person's real name, in breaking down barriers between people. She leads a Women in Engineering Career Progression work group, and also visits schools to provide career aspirational talks to tap into future talents.

Mara Cristina Tache

Vice President, Global Product Integration
MasterCard

Mara Cristina Tache serves as Co-Chair of the Savvy Ladies Jr. Board; Mara is passionate about improving women's financial literacy and supporting their pursuit of financial independence while addressing economic and racial disparities. Through Savvy Ladies' free financial education programs and Helpline, over 200 women are connected monthly with financial professionals, gaining the expertise and confidence needed to secure their financial future. Mara was recognized with the Excellence in Mentorship Award at the 2023 Savvy Ladies Awards Benefit Gala for her significant impact as a rising leader in the financial services industry. Beyond her engagement with Savvy Ladies, Mara is an experienced payments industry professional with over 12 years of contribution to employee-led business resource groups focused on empowering women leaders at all levels and advocating for LGBTQ+ equity. Her ongoing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and financial education continues to make a profound and lasting difference in her community.

Nathalia Gomes de Oliveira

Senior Tax Lawyer
Mattos Filho

Nathalia Oliveira is a Senior Tax Lawyer at Mattos Filho, dedicated to promoting inclusion and gender equity in the workplace. Since 2022, she has actively participated in debates and events on women's challenges in the legal sector. Nathalia, who is autistic, launched the Mind Talks affinity group at Mattos Filho to foster discussions on mental health and neurodiversity. She has lectured on autism in corporate environments, especially from a diverse perspective.In 2024, Nathalia spoke at the 68th NGO Forum at the United Nations on "Neurodivergent Women in the Corporate World: Challenges and Perspectives." Nathalia was featured on the 2023 Enable List by Involve and HSBC for her efforts in workplace inclusion. Nathalia is also a Women In Tax Brazil member, promoting gender equity in the tax legal field.

Christin Kohnke

VP of Human Resources
Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail

Christin Kohnke is the VP of Human Resources at Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail. Dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace, she is the sponsor of the Noir network, which has driven open conversations on privilege, cultural representation, and collaboration through seven impactful events, engaging over 100 colleagues. Since joining PR GTR in 2023, Christin has simplified flexible working policies and introduced progressive paternity and maternity leave policies. Previously, as HR Director for Pernod Ricard Deutschland, she implemented a 100% flexible working approach, boosting engagement and well-being scores while reducing turnover. Christin led DRIVE, a 12-month program for women talent, resulting in nearly 50% of participants receiving promotions. Christin mentors and coaches women, actively participating in networks like Nushu and FidAR. She also co-hosts the 'Chefin ruft an' podcast, focusing on women in leadership, and regularly contributes to panel discussions and industry podcasts, championing innovative DEI concepts and flexible working models.

Alexandria Chong

Director, FIC Relationship Management
Deutsche Bank

Alexandria Chong is a Director in FIC Relationship Management at Deutsche Bank, with a 7.5-year tenure at the firm marked by a deep commitment to women's diversity and inclusion. As co-chair of the Women on Wall Street (WOWS) Employee Resource Group (ERG), she leads a steering committee that delivers programming to a network of over 2,500 employees. Under Alex's leadership, WOWS has hosted over 100+ events, from networking sessions, speaker series to recruitment drives, to attract, retain, and promote women talent within the bank and the wider financial industry. Alex frequently engages with senior management across the bank, to advocate for the network's needs and promote gender equality. In addition to internal efforts, she has organized several women-focused client engagements, such as golf outings and senior leadership forums, fostering connections and driving change across financial services companies. Alex also co-founded College AppAssist Inc. in 2012, a nonprofit which provided mentorship and college application support to students facing barriers in, over a successful ten years.

Katharina Heinrich

Senior Client Partner, Retail
Pinterest

Katharina Heinrich currently serves as a Senior Client Partner, Retail at Pinterest, where she champions diversity and inclusion, drawing from her extensive experience at Meta. At Meta, she led the Women@Meta EMEA resource group, a community with more than 2000 members. As the Women@EMEA Co-Lead there, Katharina organized chapter and regional activations, panel discussions, and internal mentoring programs, creating supportive environments for women to connect, share experiences, and receive guidance. She spearheaded the programming for International Women's Month 2023 and 2024, hosting events centered around diversity and inclusion, significantly enhancing Meta’s workplace inclusivity. At Pinterest, Katharina continues her dedication to promoting a more inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.

Ana Alderete Roberts

Senior Manager, Content Strategy and Operations
Paramount Pictures

Ana Alderete Roberts is Senior Manager of Content Strategy and Operations at Paramount. Highly dedicated to promoting gender equity in the workplace and beyond, she consciously uplifts her women colleagues and friends and takes initiative to organize events and activities that amplify women's voices, ensuring they can openly share their thoughts and opinions. Through her work with RISE Argentina – an Employee Resource Group aimed at developing early-to-mid career employees – and in partnership with different areas, Ana organized a "Commit Your All to Your Career" workshop, with 65% of participants being women. This International Women's Day, she coordinated a special panel covering gender bias in AI featuring topic expert Carolina Bertoni. Ana also lends her expertise to mentoring women from diverse backgrounds on career growth and navigating change. Outside of work, she supports EcoFeminita's efforts to address the gender pay gap in Argentina and participates in male-dominated activities to help amplify women's voices.

Lee Xin Law

Sr FP&A (APAC Regions)
The Estee Lauder Companies

Lee Xin Law is the Senior FP&A for APAC Regions at The Estée Lauder Companies. Known for her proactive approach, she consistently seizes opportunities to develop her skills, leadership, and self-confidence. She guides peers and stakeholders, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Passionate about mentoring, Lee Xin actively contributes to business discussions and assists colleagues, enhancing overall team performance. Lee Xin's dedication extends beyond her role. She volunteers for challenging tasks, exemplified by her involvement in transitioning the Macau entity to KL and supporting the FP&A team. As a pioneer member, Lee Xin assists the regional finance director in building the team, honing her leadership skills. Lee Xin also offers career advice to colleagues, promoting a nurturing workplace culture. Committed to gender equality in finance, she aspires to be a woman financial influencer, advocating for a healthy, inclusive, and supportive workplace for future generations.

Omy Lawal

Group Head of People Business Partnering and People Operations
LMAX Group

Omy Lawal is the Group Head of People Business Partnering & People Operations at LMAX Group. Upon joining the organization she noticed that young women didn't have a platform to connect. As such, she pioneered the company's first internal network, 'Women in Fintech Network,' which is dedicated to the advancement of women within and outside of the business. Omy's work has also resulted in increased hiring of those who identify as women into the organization, reporting an almost fifty percent increase since 2022. In 2023, Omy spoke at the Udemy conference in Ireland, discussing the importance of a learning and development culture in organizations. She emphasized the need for inclusive learning opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, class, or learning abilities. Omy supports the recruitment team by advocating for an inclusive recruitment process, to encourage diverse applicants. She believes in creating spaces for others and giving back to the community.

Johanna Blankush

Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager of Non-Consumables
Dollar General

Johanna Blankush is Dollar General's Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Non-Consumables. She prioritizes promoting diversity and inclusion, creating an empowering environment for women customers, employees, and leaders. Johanna views her team as an extended family and strives to ensure that women feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work, understanding that their differences make a significant impact. She encourages creative workflows, trust, and accountability to help her team balance personal and professional demands. Johanna also provides mentorship and networking opportunities to empower women throughout DG. Johanna’s leadership is inspired by her all-girls high school experience, where she learned to raise her hand, become confident, and appreciate the value of diverse perspectives. She fosters open dialogue, encourages debate, and builds a strong level of trust within her team. Beyond her professional role, Johanna provides mentorship to others, helping them navigate their career paths and balance work-life dynamics.

Maria Deres

Senior Strategy Director
BCG BrightHouse

Maria Deres is a Senior Strategy Director at BCG BrightHouse, a creative consultancy rooted in purpose. Fostering support among women is close to her heart, as is role modelling a fulfilling family life in tier 1 strategy consulting. Maria passionately has been providing mentorship to young women professionals across different industries and from different backgrounds for over a decade, providing a realistic and optimistic example of balancing motherhood and leadership roles. On top of delivering excellent results for her clients and being a valued senior leader of BrightHouse, she pushes to elevate diversity and inclusion debates and fosters a community among working mothers. Maria has delivered impactful speeches on several occasions, e.g. at BCG’s senior women conferences, showcasing BrightHouse's work. Furthermore, Maria has provided mentorship to young people from Syria through BCG's "JOBLINGE" initiative, helping disadvantaged youth find professional success, and puts her focus on building healthy and respectful work environments.

Monisha Singh

HR Business Partner
wipro Technology

Monisha Singh is an HR Business Partner at Wipro Technology, where she actively contributes to advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives. She introduced a period leave policy at Nucleus Software, showcasing dedication to supporting the health and well-being of all employees. Monisha organized male allyship sessions to foster gender equality and inclusivity, encouraging meaningful discussions and awareness among male employees. Monisha initiated regular safe space discussions for employees to openly share their experiences and suggestions, promoting a culture of inclusivity. Additionally, Monisha implemented comprehensive diversity and inclusion training programs, focusing on unconscious bias and cultural competence and creating inclusive teams, thereby increasing awareness and promoting respectful interactions among colleagues.Her efforts have had a significant impact on the creation of a supportive and equitable workplace.

Evelyn Bubb

Senior Director, Retail & Consumer Products Sector for Strategic Communications Segment
FTI Consulting

Evelyn Bubb is a Senior Director in the Retail & Consumer Products Sector for FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment. In addition to helping her clients navigate critical business issues and bolster their reputations, she works with FTI’s Human Resources team to oversee the early talent recruiting process for the consumer and retail sector in the Americas, achieving a 100% intern-to-full-time hire conversion rate in New York for the past two years. Evelyn’s dedication to recruiting and retaining diverse talent has been instrumental in meeting diversity goals. Since joining FTI as an intern in 2014, Evelyn has consistently led early career professionals, serving as a sought-after mentor and team leader. Known for her quiet confidence, humor, and respect, Evelyn brings thoughtfulness and preparedness to everything she does. Evelyn is committed to promoting inclusion across her professional and personal life, participating in women’s networking groups including Monday Girl and Ellevate Network.

Jennifer Schouwe

Human Resources Specialist
Sandia National Laboratories

Jennifer Schouwe, Human Resources Specialist at Sandia National Laboratories, fosters intersectional professional and personal development. She leads efforts to deepen the impact of employee resource groups, particularly those supporting underserved or marginalized groups, including women and people of color. She actively designs and implements meaningful engagement opportunities, encouraging investment from colleagues and leadership. Jennifer shapes how teams foster belonging beyond “doing” and into “being” through partnership and innovative thinking. She builds leaders and teammates into changemakers and partners—to generate a collective culture that champions diversity with authenticity. Jennifer works to provide equal access to resources for employees within a learning culture. She advocates for diversity efforts in all dimensions of the workforce, volunteers for events supporting women, and consults with teams while sharing her expertise. Jennifer also prioritizes mentorship to future and current women leaders as a career coach. Her efforts have increased women's confidence, allyship, and purpose, providing visibility and voice for diversity efforts.

Madelei Oliveira-Agnew

IT Project Manager
Shell

Madelei Oliveira-Agnew is an IT Project Manager at Shell who volunteers as the Lead for the UK Family Network, coordinating a team of seven volunteers. She has created and managed an online portal providing quick access to support for families and carers, including company policies, government laws, partnerships with third-party support, and event references. Madelei has established a Teams Chat space where staff can safely discuss topics such as family and caring responsibilities and has organized events on various subjects such as raising multilingual children, flexible working, and support for neurodiverse family members. Madelei participated in an HR Panel discussing policy improvements, specifically targeting family topics and gender equality in work balance. Her contributions led to changes in Shell's benefits policies, improving clarity and access. Through her leadership skills and dedication, she has made a significant impact on the support and resources available to families and carers at Shell.

Sophia Papi

Head of UK Wholesale
TwentyFour Asset Management

Sophia Papi is the Head of UK Wholesale at TwentyFour Asset Management. She established a firm-wide partnership with Queen Mary, University of London, to promote finance as a viable career for underprivileged women students, which has been in place for a number of years. Through this partnership, staff provide mentorship to women students, offering support, career advice, internships, and scholarships. Sophia has also hosted educational sessions and workshops for local universities to encourage finance careers among students. Sophia created TwentyFour's graduate scheme and advocates for equal promotion opportunities. She has spearheaded gender diversity initiatives within the organization, collaborating with senior partners to implement supportive policies. In addition, Sophia hosts 'Women in Finance' events featuring trailblazing guest speakers, providing valuable networking opportunities. Recognized in Investment Week's 'Rising Stars: The Individuals Driving Industry Change' in 2020, Sophia also volunteers for the 'Young Women's Trust,' reviewing CVs, and regularly speaks at 'Women in Asset Management’ events.

Rocío Del Mar Cárdenas Coronilla

ScrumMaster, Product Owner & Technical Engineer
Fujitsu Technology Solutions

As a volunteer and organizer of the Diversity and Inclusion group at Fujitsu, Rocío actively collaborates on activities and awareness-raising proposals either in and out the company. She is a facilitator of Google’s #IAmRemarkable workshops and managed to teach online with other companies workshops this year to help empower women and minority groups to break the glass ceiling. In addition, she has put together a Spotlight blog and prepared a Brave, Bold & Brilliant podcast together with Tulia Lopes to inspire and help other women.