2023 Speakers
The 20th annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women was held November 7th, 2023. Below is a recap of the speakers. For 2024 speaker updates, please subscribe to our newsletter
Keynotes
José Andrés
Keynote Speaker
Chef & Humanitarian
JOSÉ ANDRÉS, named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018, and awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, is an internationally recognized ...
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Jacinda Ardern
Keynote Speaker
Prime Minister, New Zealand (2017-2023); Senior Fellow, Harvard University; Special Envoy, Christchurch Call to Action; Board Member, The Earthshot Prize
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAME JACINDA ARDERN became the Prime Minister of New Zealand at just 37 years of age. During her time in office she faced the challenges of a live streamed domestic terror attack against New ...
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Ann Marie Baldonado
Moderator
Director, Talent Development & Contributor, Fresh Air
ANN MARIE BALDONADO is an interview contributor and long-time producer and editor at Fresh Air with Terry Gross. She is currently Fresh Air's Director of Talent Development. She started her career in journalism ...
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Gail Devers
Keynote Speaker
Olympic Gold Medalist & Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Patient Advocate
GAIL DEVERS is a five-time Olympian, nine-time World Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field who was one of the fastest women alive for almost two decades. Amid this unprecedented feat, ...
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Tina Fey
Keynote Speaker
Writer, Comedian, Actress, Producer & Author
TINA FEY is a writer, comedian, actress, producer, and author. She continues to be applauded for the iconic and groundbreaking seven-season run as the executive producer, head writer, and star of NBC's ...
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Lulu Garcia-Navarro
Moderator
Opinion Section Host & Writer, The New York Times, podcast Host, First Person & former NPR Journalist
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO is a host and writer for the Opinion Section of The New York Times. She was the host of the podcast First Person and is currently launching a new project at The New York Times. ...
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Laysha Ward
Moderator
EVP, Chief External Engagement Officer, Target
LAYSHA WARD is an accomplished C-suite executive with thirty years of leadership experience at Target. In 2017, Ward was named executive vice president, chief external engagement officer, overseeing ...
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Special Guest Speakers
Mayor James Kenney
Mayor, City of Philadelphia ...
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Carol Lee Mitchell
Introduction
Head of Small Business, Specialty & Consumer Vehicle Lending Strategy, Bank of America
CAROL LEE MITCHELL is the head of small business, specialty, and consumer vehicle ...
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Theresa Podrebarac, MD, MSc
Introduction
SVP, Clinical Development, Research & Development, Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc.
THERESA PODREBARAC, MD, MSc is a physician scientist with extensive development ...
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Amanda Poole
Introduction|Senior Vice President, HR, Bristol Myers Squibb ...
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Leslie Stiles
Welcome
Board President, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
LESLIE STILES is currently board president of the Pennsylvania Conference for ...
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Alicia Vitarelli
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Bright Futures in STEM Workplaces
ALICIA VITARELLI is the co-anchor of Action News (10AM, 5 and 5:30 PM), where she ...
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Celeste Warren
Introduction
VP, Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, Merck
CELESTE WARREN is the leader for Merck’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Center ...
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Signe Wilkinson
Award Recipient
Editorial Cartoonist
SIGNE WILKINSON was the editorial cartoonist for the Philadelphia Daily News ...
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Session 1 Program Offerings | 8:45 - 9:45am
Dr. Nina Ahmad
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question: Setting Career Goals to Thrive at Work and in Life
DR. NINA AHMAD is the president of the PA chapter of the National Organization ...
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Sushma Akunuru
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navating the STEM Workplace
SUSHMA AKUNURU is SVP of business technology services at Independence Blue ...
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Loraine Ballard Morrill
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Reinventing Your Career Portfolio
LORAINE BALLARD MORRILL is Director of News and Community Affairs for six radio ...
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Kenya T Boswell
Executive Mentor
Bright Futures in STEM Workplaces
KENYA T. BOSWELL is the senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark ...
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Dr. Chureen Carter
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating the STEM Workplace
Host | Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success ...
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Monica Chung
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Setting Career Goals to Thrive at Work and in Life
MONICA CHUNG is vice president of US sales for dermatology at Bristol Myers ...
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Alexandra Dailerian
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
ALEXANDRA DAILERIAN serves as vice president on the impact & inclusion team ...
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Laurie Dalton White
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
LAURIE DALTON WHITE is the founding executive director of Conferences for Women, ...
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Lisa Desphy
Moderator
That’s a Good Question
LISA DESPHY is a 27+ year media sales executive currently serving as the director ...
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Fran Hauser
Moderator
That’s a Good Question: Setting Career Goals to Thrive at Work and in Life
Bookstore Author Chat | best-selling Author, The Myth of the Nice Girl & ...
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Tia Lyles-Williams, DSc
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
TIA LYLES-WILLIAMS, DSc affectionately known as Dr. Tia, is the 1st African ...
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Suzanne Quigley
Host
Beyond Expectations: Break Free and Rediscover Yourself
SUZANNE QUIGLEY has over twenty-five years of experience in corporate ...
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Lt. Susan Slawson
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
LT. SUSAN SLAWSON served as a civil service employee in the City of Philadelphia ...
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Flannery Stevens, PhD
Learning Stage
Navigating Power & Politics in Organizations
FLANNERY STEVENS, PhD is the Associate Professor in Management and Operations ...
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Session 2 Program Offerings | 1:45 - 2:45pm
Keesha Boyd
Host
Career Progression: Getting from Here to There
KEESHA BOYD, vice president of entertainment emerging products, is a ...
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Amber Cabral
Thought-Leader| How to Advocate for Yourself and Others...Without Risking your ...
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Dr. Chureen Carter
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating the STEM Workplace
Host | Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success ...
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Alicia Daugherty
Career Connections Meet-up
Moderator
ALICIA DAUGHERTY is a professional coach and founder and principal of Alicia ...
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Kate Forester
Learning Stage
Owning Your Financial Future
KATE FORESTER is vice president, branch leader at the Greenville, DE Investor ...
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Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Speaker
Regaining Connection Through Community
DR. JOY HARDEN BRADFORD is a licensed psychologist and the host of the wildly ...
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Fran Hauser
Moderator
That’s a Good Question: Setting Career Goals to Thrive at Work and in Life
Bookstore Author Chat | best-selling Author, The Myth of the Nice Girl & ...
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Donna Heffner
Learning Stage ...
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Sally Helgesen
Speaker | Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success ...
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Angelique Hopkins
Panelist
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others...Without Risking your Career
ANGELIQUE HOPKINS is vice president, enterprise and portfolio analytics at ...
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Marissa Horner
Career Connections Meet-up
Sr. Manager, Talent Acquisition Executive, Bristol Myers Squibb
MARISSA HORNER has been with Bristol Myers Squibb since 2016, where she has held ...
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Megan Kollock
Career Connections Meet-up
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Johnson & Johnson
MEGAN KOLLOCK is a senior talent acquisition partner at Johnson & Johnson. ...
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Reetika Kumar, MD, FACP
Wellness Stage ...
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Meg Myers Morgan, PhD
Speaker | Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success
MEG ...
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Erica Williams Simon
Speaker
Career Progression: Getting From Here to There
ERICA WILLIAMS SIMON she/her is an award-winning narrative strategist, author, ...
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Alicia Sundberg
Panelist
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others...Without Risking your Career
ALICIA SUNDBERG is the president of the broker dealer digital brokerage services ...
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Funmi Williamson
Host
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others…Without Risking your Career
FUNMI WILLIAMSON is the chief customer officer and senior vice president of ...
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Alison Young
Host
Beyond Comfort Zones: Evolving Leadership for Tomorrow’s Work
HON. ALISON YOUNG is managing partner of Red, White and Blue Strategies, and ...
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Session 3 Program Offerings | 3:15 - 4:15pm
Nicole F. Cohen
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
NICOLE COHEN is a managing director at Accenture who has worked in life sciences ...
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Alicia Daugherty
Career Connections Meet-up
Moderator
ALICIA DAUGHERTY is a professional coach and founder and principal of Alicia ...
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DJ Lady FX
End of Day Party
DJ LADY FX is a vibe curator and private events entertainer based in ...
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Nadya I. Gonzalez
Career Connections Meet-up
Global Human Resources Leader, Aramids & DuPont Water Solutions
NADYA GONZALEZ is currently the global HR leader for the Aramids and Water ...
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Nydia Han
Thought Leader
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
NYDIA HAN is an Emmy award winning television journalist. She co-anchors Action ...
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Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Speaker
Regaining Connection Through Community
DR. JOY HARDEN BRADFORD is a licensed psychologist and the host of the wildly ...
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Fran Hauser
Moderator
That’s a Good Question: Setting Career Goals to Thrive at Work and in Life
Bookstore Author Chat | best-selling Author, The Myth of the Nice Girl & ...
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Terri Lee
Panelist
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
TERRI LEE is vice president of state government affairs and policy, at Merck. Lee ...
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Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating New Work Environments
REV. DR. LORINA MARSHALL-BLAKE is the president of the Independence Blue Cross ...
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Ashanti Martin
Learning Stage
Succeeding Professionally When You Are in the Minority
ASHANTI MARTIN is a veteran writer and strategic marketing leader with more than ...
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Beverly Miller
Career Connections Meet-up
Associate Director, Global Talent Acquisition, Merck
BEVERLY MILLER is an experienced professional with 15 years of experience in ...
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Meg Myers Morgan, PhD
Speaker | Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success
MEG ...
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Kristina Nicoles
Panelist
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
KRISTINA NICOLES is the senior vice president of human resources at Holman, an ...
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Blenda Pinto
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
BLENDA PINTO is a highly accomplished executive boasting an extensive career ...
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Dr. Manuela Priesemuth
Learning Stage
Navigating Toxic Workplaces
DR. MANUELA PRIESEMUTH is an associate professor of management and the faculty ...
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Erica Williams Simon
Speaker
Career Progression: Getting From Here to There
ERICA WILLIAMS SIMON she/her is an award-winning narrative strategist, author, ...
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Erica Spencer
Host
Fixed Flexibility: How to Negotiate What You Need to Stay
ERICA SPENCER is vice president, human resources at Axalta. She leads the ...
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Diane VanNatta
Host
Cohesive Culture: Creating a Team Built for Success
DIANE VANNATTA has been with Bank of America as a member of human resources for ...
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Karen Farmer White
Host
Regaining Connection Through Community
KAREN FARMER WHITE is a founding board member and secretary of the Pennsylvania ...
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AnnMarie Zollo
Career Connections Meet-up
Head, Talent Acquisition, Axalta Coatings System
ANNMARIE ZOLLO is the head of talent acquisition at Axalta Coating Systems. ...
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