2025 Keynote Speakers
Be inspired by leaders of the industry
Jon M. Chu
Award-winning director of "Wicked", "In The Heights" and "Crazy Rich Asians" and author of "Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen"
Jon M. Chu is known for his visually stunning blockbuster films, as well as his kinetic work across various genres from groundbreaking series to commercials and films. Additionally, his unique storytelling ability has earned him the honor of inclusion on the Hollywood Reporter’s Power 100 list as well as Variety’s New Hollywood Leaders.
Most recently, Chu directed Universal Pictures’ critically acclaimed WICKED, starring Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Part 1 of the feature-film adaptation of the record-breaking musical phenomenon released in theaters on November 22, 2024 and quickly became a box-office hit, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaption in domestic box office history in its second week earning over $350 million globally. His memoir, Viewfinder, is his journey from growing up in the Silicon Valley to transitioning to Hollywood and helming major studio projects, released Summer 2024. The book is an uplifting tale of belonging, creativity and learning to see who you truly are.
His recent projects include the critically acclaimed adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS for Warner Bros. Studios as well as the worldwide phenomenon CRAZY RICH ASIANS, which was nominated for numerous awards, including a SAG Award, a Golden Globe and PGA Award. It is one of the top 10 highest grossing romantic comedies of all time and the highest in a decade. It was also the first contemporary studio picture in more than 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast and opened a new chapter in Asian-American representation in Hollywood.
Chu is in post-production on WICKED: PART TWO, which is set to release on November 21, 2025, and is attached to develop to direct the highly anticipated biopic for Britney Spears based on her memoir, The Woman in Me, with Universal. He is also in development on Dr. Seuss’ OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! with Warner Bros and JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot, which will be his first animated film. His previous films include GI. JOE: RETALIATION, NOW YOU SEE ME 2, JUSTIN BIEBER’S NEVER SAY NEVER and many more representing over 1.3 billion dollars in the worldwide box office.
Penny Pennington
Managing Partner
Edward Jones
Penny Pennington is the managing partner of Edward Jones, a leading financial services company dedicated to helping its 8 million clients turn their life plans into financial strategies. Under her leadership, the firm delivers on its purpose to partner for positive impact, to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better its communities and society.
As Edward Jones begins its second century, Pennington, as the firm's sixth managing partner, is guiding Edward Jones through a cultural renewal and strategic transformation that is purpose-driven, leader-led and team-based. The firm's approximately 54,000 associates and nearly 19,500 financial advisors throughout the U.S. and Canada are committed to meeting clients' growing desires and expectations for a trusted advisor who deeply understands their goals and guides them to meet those goals with professional advice that reflects their unique situations.
With more branch offices in more communities than any other financial services company, Pennington is seeking to lift more people up through three areas of focus: partnering for lasting financial strength, promoting healthier futures, and advancing inclusive growth. One way Edward Jones brings these priorities to life is by promoting financial wellness; through its Financial Fitness program, the firm is committed to educating 1 million learners by the end of 2025. Edward Jones believes that serving more clients in more communities, and helping them achieve more possibilities in their lives, invigorates families and futures for this generation and generations to come.
Pennington began her career with Edward Jones as a financial advisor in 2000 after a 14-year career in banking and was named a principal in 2006. She held various leadership roles in the firm's St. Louis home office before being named managing partner in 2019. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and she was named No. 69 on the Fortune Most Powerful Women* list.
In 2022, Pennington was elected to serve a three-year term as a large-firm governor of the FINRA Board of Governors, which oversees management in the administration of FINRA’s affairs and the promotion of FINRA’s welfare, objectives and purposes. She is an active member of the St. Louis community, serving on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees.
*2023 Fortune Most Powerful Women, published October 2023, data as of August 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
Dr. Anirudh Devgan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cadence
Dr. Anirudh Devgan is President and CEO of Cadence and is a member of the Board of Directors. Prior to becoming CEO in 2021, he was President of Cadence, before which he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Digital & Signoff and System Verification groups. Under his leadership, Cadence has significantly grown its computational software and hardware portfolio, expanded into adjacent and new markets, and achieved several years of record revenue growth. Prior to joining Cadence in 2012, Dr. Devgan was Corporate VP and member of the executive staff at Magma Design Automation and earlier held management and technical roles at IBM.
Dr. Devgan is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities in electronic design automation (EDA) and successfully pioneered the application of massively parallel and distributed architectures to create several industry firsts and most impactful products in the areas of SPICE simulation, library characterization, place and route, static timing, power, and electromagnetics, among several others. He also drove the first common compiler architecture for emulation and prototyping platforms.
Dr. Devgan is an IEEE Fellow, member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), has written numerous research papers, and holds 27 US patents. He has won several awards, including the prestigious Phil Kaufman Award for his extensive contributions to EDA as well as the IBM Corporate Award and IEEE McCalla Award. Dr. Devgan serves on the boards of the Global Semiconductor Alliance and the Electronic System Design Alliance.
Dr. Devgan received a Bachelor of Technology degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and MS and PhD degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Ed Bastian
Chief Executive Officer
Delta Air Lines
Under Ed’s leadership, Delta is transforming the air travel experience with generational investments in technology, aircraft, airport facilities and, most importantly, Delta’s employees worldwide. A more-than-25-year Delta veteran, Ed has been a critical leader in Delta’s long-term strategy and champion of putting Delta’s shared values of honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance and servant leadership at the core of every decision.
Since being named Delta’s CEO in May 2016, Ed has expanded Delta’s leading position as the world’s most reliable airline while growing its global footprint and enhancing the customer experience in the air and on the ground. During his tenure as CEO, Delta has become America’s most awarded airline, having been named the Wall Street Journal’s top U.S. airline; Air Transport World’s Airline of the Year, the top-ranking airline in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, the Platinum Award recipient for operational excellence by Cirium; among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies listand many more.
In 2018, Fortune named Ed among “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” and in 2019, he was elected to the membership of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2021, amidst a global pandemic, Ed was awarded for his Executive Leadership in FlightGlobal’s 2021 Airline Strategy Awards and named among the Top 10 CEOs of 2021 in Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards as a leader who excelled at supporting their people. Ed was most recently honored by his peer CEOs and named Chief Executive magazine’s2023 Chief Executive of the Year in addition to the 2024 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend Magazine.
Ed’s values-based leadership propelled the airline to become the industry leader and a trusted global brand, guided by empathy, humanity and devotion to service, which has served Delta well in good times and bad. He has served as a Delta leader and steered the company through the most challenging periods of the company’s history, including 9/11, bankruptcy and COVID-19.
When asked to sum up his job in five words, Ed’s response is: “Taking care of our people.” The answer reflects his leadership philosophy, which is based on the “virtuous circle” – if you take care of your people, they take care of your customers, whose business and loyalty allow you to reward your investors.
Ed joined Delta in 1998 as V.P. – Finance and Controller. He was named Chief Financial Officer in 2005, and in 2007 he was appointed to serve as Delta’s President.
Before joining Delta, Ed held senior finance positions at Frito-Lay International and Pepsi-Cola International. Ed started his career with Price Waterhouse, where he became an audit partner in its New York practice.
Ed grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He lives in Atlanta and is deeply involved in his faith, family and community.
John Pearson
CEO
DHL Express
With over three decades of experience, John has held leadership roles across the globe, including CEO positions for DHL Express in Europe, APEM (Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and EEMEA. He has an extensive background in sales, marketing, and general management, contributing to DHL’s success in regions such as the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Oceania.
John began his career with DHL in 1986 and continues to drive innovation and growth in the express industry worldwide.
Anthony Capuano
President and CEO
Marriott International
Before his appointment as CEO in February 2021, Mr. Capuano was Group President, Global Development, Design and Operations Services, where he led the strategic unit growth of all of Marriott’s brands while overseeing the global design team as well as Marriott’s global operating standards and protocols for thousands of properties around the world. Mr. Capuano was also responsible for oversight of the EDITION Hotels, a unique concept in the luxury lifestyle hotel space conceived by hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International.
Mr. Capuano joined Marriott in 1995 and was instrumental in its steady growth over the years, which included the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016. Mr. Capuano began his Marriott career as part of the Market Planning and Feasibility team, where he helped the company assess the overall economic viability of new and existing hotels, balancing the company’s interests with the needs of hotel owners and developers, investors, lenders, and operators.
That role prepared him to lead Marriott’s development efforts in the Western United States and Canada for its full-service hotel brands. Later, his responsibilities expanded to include North America, the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2009, Mr. Capuano assumed global development responsibility. He began overseeing global design in 2014 and global operations in January 2020.
Mr. Capuano earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Hotel Administration. He is an active member of the Cornell Hotel Society, The Cornell School of Hotel Administration Dean’s Advisory Board, as well as the Business Roundtable and the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s IREFAC Council. Additionally, Mr. Capuano serves on the Board of Directors for McDonald's Corporation and Save Venice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Venice, Italy. He resides in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife and daughter.
Laurel Richie
Independent Board Director
Synchrony
Ms. Richie served as President of the Women’s National Basketball Association LLC from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that, she served as a brand consultant for Teach For America and Chief Marketing Officer of Girl Scouts of the United States of America. The bulk of her career was spent at Ogilvy & Mather, where she held various leadership positions including Senior Partner and Executive Group Director and member of the Operating and Diversity Advisory Boards.
Ms. Richie has been recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Business by The Network Journal, one of the Most Influential African Americans in Sports by Black Enterprise, and one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy magazine. She is the recipient of numerous awards including Sports Business Journal’s Game Changer Award and Ebony magazine’s Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications Award.
A proud alumna of Dartmouth College, Ms. Richie was Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2021 and currently serves as chair of the Hopkins Center for the Arts Advisory board and trustee of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and Dartmouth- Hitchcock Clinic.
Brian Doubles
President and CEO
Synchrony
Brian was named CEO in 2021, after serving as President for two years and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for 10 years.
As President, Brian led the development of Synchrony’s long-term strategy, driving profitability and growth, while creating value for its partners and shareholders. In this role he focused on Synchrony’s continued leadership in digital payments, accelerating growth, driving the company’s strategic initiatives and transforming how Synchrony works. In addition, he led Synchrony’s strategic prioritization process, including efforts centered around accelerating Synchrony’s digital transformation and commercial strategies. Brian also led Synchrony’s work to elevate diversity and inclusion, focusing on driving enterprise-wide action and change in workforce development and inclusion; financial growth and wellness; and racial equality and social reform.
As CFO, he played a pivotal role in Synchrony’s initial public offering in 2014 and separation from GE in 2015. Brian has a proven track record operating in various economic cycles and has earned a strong reputation for his deep domain expertise, strategic thinking, and financial and risk discipline. Prior to Synchrony’s founding, Brian served in various roles of increasing responsibility and management at GE.
Brian is a member of the Business Roundtable and Bank Policy Institute. He is passionate about community and giving back. In 2015 he founded the “Doubles Dive,” an annual, global polar plunge event that raises money for various charitable organizations.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Michigan State University. He is married with two children.
Jim Kavanaugh
Co-founder and CEO
World Wide Technology
Jim is an investor and board member of cybersecurity firm Privoro, a board member of Stifel Financial Corporation, and a member of Business Roundtable. He has also been a trustee of the board for his alma mater, St. Louis University since 2010. Deeply committed to giving back to the community, Jim served as president of the board for St. Patrick Center and is a current member of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer of Missouri. Jim has supported many local and national charitable organizations such as ALS Association, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Toys for Tots, Cardinal Glennon, Junior Achievement and United Way.
Prior to co-founding WWT, Jim played professional soccer and credits his experience with sports for instilling in him several principles that serve as core values for WWT today, such as trust, passion and being a team player. Jim is an investor/owner of Major League Soccer franchise St. Louis City SC, and National Hockey League team St. Louis Blues.
Dr. Thomas Ogilvie
Board of Management, Human Resources
DHL Group
Joining the company in 2001, Thomas began his career at Deutsche Post Consult GmbH’s Market Research Service Center before advancing through roles in product and business development within the Post-eCommerce-Parcel division.
He holds a Diploma in Psychology from the University of Bonn, Germany, and a PhD in Economics from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Thomas is committed to fostering a culture of growth, innovation, and employee engagement within DHL Group.
Candace Parker
3x WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, 2x WNBA MVP, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, and 2x NCAA Champion
Parker was the first woman to join the Social Change Fund, which invests in organizations working to make a greater impact in underrepresented communities of color. She was featured in the Disney+ docuseries Becoming, profiles for The New York Times, Forbes, and more, and was named to TIME's list of the "100 Most Influential People in 2022." Parker launched her media company Baby Hair Productions, and has produced a documentary exploring the impact of Title IX. Expanding her entrepreneurial portfolio, Parker and her daughter became co-owners of the Angel City FC National Women’s Soccer League expansion team. Parker gave an electrifying TEDWomen Talk How to break down barriers and not accept limits that went viral instantly with over 1M views, sharing her journey as a trailblazing sports icon, what it takes to break barriers, and the lesson she learned from her daughter about not accepting limitations.
Dr. Angela Duckworth
Professor at UPenn and Author of "Grit"
Duckworth completed her undergraduate degree in Advanced Studies Neurobiology at Harvard, graduating magna cum laude. With the support of a Marshall Scholarship, she completed an MSc with Distinction in Neuroscience from Oxford University. She completed her PhD in Psychology as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth’s TED talk is among the most-viewed of all time. Her first book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, is a #1 New York Times best seller.
Dr. Joy Buolamwini
Founder of Algorithmic Justice League and author of national bestseller "Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines"
Dr. Joy lends her expertise to congressional hearings and government agencies seeking to enact equitable and accountable AI policy. As the Poet of Code, she creates art to illuminate the impact of AI on society. Her writing and work have been featured in publications like TIME, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Rolling Stone and The Atlantic. Her work as a spokesmodel has been featured in Vogue, Allure, Harper's Bazaar, and People Magazine. She is the protagonist of the Emmy-nominated documentary Coded Bias which is available to over 100 million viewers.
Dr. Joy was featured on Brené Brown's Dare to Lead Podcast to discuss fighting bias in algorithms, Gender Shades – the accuracy of AI-powered gender classification products, and her perspective on technology as a poet, artist, and scientist.
Dr. Joy is the first Black researcher to grace the cover of Fast Company appearing in the 2020 “Most Creative People” issue and has been named to notable lists including Forbes 30 under 30, Bloomberg 50, Time 100 AI Inaugural list, and MIT Tech Review 35 under 35. She is the recipient of notable awards including the Rhodes Scholarship, the Fulbright Fellowship, the inaugural Morals and Machines Prize, and the Technological Innovation Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. She was selected as a 2022 Young Global Leader, one of the world’s most promising leaders under the age of 40 as determined by The World Economic Forum. Fortune named her the "conscience of the AI revolution." Dr. Joy earned her Ph.D. from MIT and was awarded honorary degrees from Dartmouth and Knox College. She enjoys drawing and drumming in her free time. Visit www.unmasking.ai
Fadzlun Sapandi
EVP Global HR
DHL Express
Fadzlun’s career journey exemplifies adaptability and growth. Beginning in customer service, she has continuously ‘reinvented’ herself, culminating in her current role as the leader of the global HR organization for DHL Express. In this capacity, she is dedicated to ensuring an outstanding employee experience for over 115,000 employees worldwide while cultivating a culture where people can thrive.
As part of the world’s most international company, Fadzlun has gained a wealth of global experience, having worked across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Her approach to leadership is rooted in inclusivity and a passion for creating a workplace that inspires and empowers people to reach their full potential.
Michael C. Bush
CEO
Great Place To Work®
Jennifer Morgan
Chief Executive Officer
UKG
In her role as CEO, Jennifer leads UKG’s day-to-day operations and sets the company’s strategic, operational, and cultural agenda. Prior to becoming CEO of UKG in 2024, Jennifer served as global head of portfolio operations at Blackstone, where she led a team of operators and partnered with CEOs and leadership teams to help accelerate growth and create value for the firm’s portfolio companies. Blackstone is a significant investor in UKG, and Jennifer has served as a member of UKG’s Board of Directors since 2021.
Prior to joining Blackstone, Jennifer served as co-chief executive officer of SAP, becoming the first female CEO of a company on the DAX index, and was a member of the company’s executive board from 2017 to 2020. Throughout her more than 16-year tenure at SAP, she oversaw many of its most impactful strategic growth initiatives.
Jennifer holds a BA in Business Administration from James Madison University and is a board member at UKG and the National Academy Foundation. She previously served on the boards of Bumble, Cvent, Candle Media, and Bank of New York Mellon. She has been globally recognized for her outstanding leadership and results, including being named one of the Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune, Most Powerful Women in the World and Technology by Forbes, and as a Great Place to Work CEO For All Leadership.
Julian Lute
Insights and Innovation Strategist
Great Place To Work®
Tony Bond
Chief Impact Officer
Great Place To Work®
Ellen McGirt
Editor-in-Chief
Design Observer
Courtney della Cava
Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Portfolio Talent & Organizational Performance
Blackstone
Before joining Blackstone in 2021, Courtney served as a Partner at Bain & Company. With more than 20 years of global management consulting experience at Bain & Company in their Los Angeles, London and San Francisco offices, she served clients across multiple industry sectors. As a leader within their Talent and Leadership practice, Courtney most recently advised corporate and private equity clients on CEO and board effectiveness and organizational and talent solutions, and she also built and led several of the firm’s global human capital teams and client capabilities. She also served as a Partner and Managing Director for Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive search and talent assessment firm, and the European Marketing Director for M&M Mars. She spent the first chapter of her career at WPP.
Courtney earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from The University of California, Los Angeles, with a BA in Economics. She currently serves on the boards of Mphasis, Renaissance and Rover.
Focus Session Speakers
Gain insights from prominent industry thought leaders
Annemarie Reed
Global Marketing & Communications
Accenture
Prior to joining Accenture, Annemarie worked at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations firm, where she designed and executed communications strategies to support business objectives, engage key stakeholders, and enhance and protect reputations for companies including Accenture, Altria, The Coca-Cola Company and Thomson Reuters.
Annemarie holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
Heather Niebel
Global HR Talent Strategist
Accenture
Heather first joined Accenture in 2006 through an acquisition where she helped clients measure and identify cultural roadblocks and similarities as part of their inorganic growth strategy.
Heather holds a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont, California.
Parul Kapoor
Chief Talent and Culture Officer
Calix
Parul Kapoor is the Chief Talent and Culture Officer at Calix, where she leads a global team supporting 1,900 employees worldwide.
With over 20 years of Human Resource experience, Parul is dedicated to fostering high-performing teams and implementing innovative HR strategies that drive rapid business growth and empower employees. She excels at cultivating a positive global remote work culture that enables success for both individuals and the organization.
Parul’s executive leadership skills have been instrumental in solving complex business challenges in dynamic environments. These include navigating international mergers and acquisitions and rapidly scaling teams to meet evolving business needs. Her passion for the future of HR is evident in her commitment to driving positive change and creating an inclusive and supportive work environment.
Before joining Calix in 2021, Parul was the Vice President of Human Resources for Global R&D, IT, and Marketing and Business Development at Cadence Design Systems, where she developed and led impactful HR programs.
Parul holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Delhi and an MBA from the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development in Pune, India. Her diverse educational background and global experience uniquely position her to lead HR transformations that align with strategic business objectives.
Allison Dunavant
Senior Vice President - Human Resources
Camden Property Trust
Before joining Camden, Allison consulted with Fortune 100 corporations across various industries and top-tier educational institutions in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and business transformation.
Allison has been a featured speaker and panelist for multiple industry organizations and conferences, including the National Apartment Association, Multifamily Executive Conference, Houston Apartment Association, and the Greater Houston Partnership. She has been featured for her thought leadership in articles for GlobeSt.com, NAA Units, and Great Place to Work, and she is a member of the NAREIT Social Responsibility Council, NMHC Membership Engagement and DEI committee and serves on the board of Texas A&M’s Real Estate Program. Allison received her BS from the University of South Alabama and her Master’s degree from Texas A&M University.
Carter Powell
Regional Vice President - Operations
Camden Property Trust
Kelly Jones
Chief People Officer
Cisco
A natural teacher and coach, Kelly grounds her leadership in empowerment. She champions and advances solutions that support people in reaching their greatest potential. During her 17 years at Cisco, Kelly has built award-winning, high-performing global solutions and teams that have made a measurable impact on individual, organizational, and business performance.
Kelly has influenced people practices and delivered results at every level of the enterprise, from intern and new graduate programs to executive and enterprise strategy. Focused on attracting, selecting, engaging, and retaining top global talent, Kelly has advanced solutions that increase efficiency, improve quality, strengthen performance, and foster connection.
Kelly joined Cisco in Talent Acquisition roles spanning Engineering and Operations, University Relations, and Sales and Marketing. She then served as Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Mobility, followed by Senior Vice President & Global Head of Talent Solutions. Before joining Cisco, Kelly was Vice President of Sales Operations for Comsys and Principal Owner of her own executive placement and consulting firm.
An advocate for social justice and accessibility, Kelly serves on the board of HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. She is also an executive sponsor of Cisco’s Connected Disability Action Network (CDAN).
Kelly attended North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Dave, and rescue dog, Henri.
Farnaz Ranjbar
Chief Human Resources Officer
Coatso
Experience includes all aspects of the candidate and employee journey and driving global HR strategies which impact the business profitability whilst creating a great workplace for all. Solid track record in improving employee satisfaction and performance in complex multi-cultural work environments across the globe driving business transformation whilst creating top 25 Best Workplaces organisations.
Ashley Black
Managing Director – Equity Strategies & Social Impact
Delta
She and her team are building strategies that: drive short- and long-term equitable outcomes for Delta people; establish equity as the foundation for all policies, processes, and programs that impact people; close societal equity gaps, largely focusing on access to opportunity, health, and wealth; and leverage the voices and power of the Delta brand to promote truth-based narratives rooted in data and analysis.
She also is responsible for oversight of Delta’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) and Equity Partnerships.
Prior to her current role, Ashley led Delta’s Global Employee Communications team spending more than 18 years with the department providing communications counsel and strategy in every area of the business. In 2019, Ashley joined the Marketing team to develop and lead Delta’s internal creative agency, The Window Seat.
Ashley is an inclusive leader, trusted advisor and co-conspirator. She has served on the advisory board of the Consort Institute at Clark Atlanta University, Clayton County Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, the Executive Board of Directors for STEM Atlanta Women and the Board of Directors for Rhyne Park Softball in Smyrna.
She resides in the Atlanta area with her husband, son and daughter.
Rick Jackson
EVP Engagement & Enablement
DHL Group
Dr. Alveda J. Williams
Chief Inclusion Officer
Dow
A Ph.D. scientist turned human resources leader, Alveda joined Dow in 2002 and has held a variety of leadership roles across Research and Development and Human Resources over her 20-year career. Most recently, she served as the Corporate Director of Inclusion and Senior HR Director for Talent Acquisition.
She is the creator of Dow’s BEST symposium and serves on the Boards of the Open Chemistry Collaborative in Diversity Equity, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Corporate Council, and the Chief Diversity Officer Board for the Institute of Corporate Productivity.
Under Alveda’s leadership, Dow has delivered meaningful progress on key inclusion and diversity performance indicators, ascended to the #3 spot on the Fair360 Top 50 Companies list, and was named for the second time to World’s Best Workplaces™ by Great Place to Work® and Fortune, a distinction only awarded to 25 companies.
Holly Petroff
EVP, Global Client Services
Great Place To Work®
Holly leads Great Place To Work’s Global Client Services business, which focuses on helping companies leverage workplace culture as their competitive advantage. Holly and her team help companies experience firsthand the positive impact a high-trust work environment has on business performance, including in key indicators like agility, adaptability, speed, resilience, innovation, efficiency and more. When Holly isn’t changing the way the world works, you can find her in her garden, tending to her honey bees, or testing out a new recipe for her future cookbook.
Kim Peters
EVP Global Recognition, Research & Strategic Partnerships
Great Place To Work®
With over 20 years of experience launching and leading successful businesses, Peters leads Global Recognition, Research and Strategic Partnerships for Great Place To Work and oversees creation of our U.S. Best Workplaces lists such as the Best Workplaces for Women, for Parents, Best Small & Medium Workplaces, the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, the PEOPLE Companies That Care list, our national and regional Best Workplaces lists around the world and our World’s Best Workplaces List. Recognition on these lists is part of Great Place To Work’s Certification program, which offers companies of all sizes and industries the opportunity to get Great Place To Work Certified, recognized on Best Workplaces lists, and to measure, assess and build a high-trust workplace culture. She also leads the company’s Strategic Partnerships and its annual Great Place To Work For All Summit and For All Leadership Awards.
Under Peters’ leadership, Great Place To Work has dramatically scaled its ability to recognize organizations as great workplaces. Through the strategic partnerships with FORTUNE and PEOPLE Magazines, Peters created the Certification Program and many new Best Workplaces lists. As a result, many more companies now have the opportunity to gain the credit they deserve for building a great workplace for all.
Marcus Erb
VP, Insights & Innovation
Great Place To Work®
Marcus Erb is vice president of insights & innovation at Great Place to Work. He is co-author of research papers in Great Place to Work’s Innovation Insights Series, including the first report, “Innovation By All.” He also is a co-author of Great Place to Work’s 2018 book, A Great Place to Work For All. He and his team focus on developing the next set of tools and insights to help companies build better workplaces for their people and performance. In his previous experience, Marcus worked for an international research and management consulting firm specializing in customized customer satisfaction, performance measurement, strategic development, and organizational assessment programs. Marcus received his B.A. in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles and his M.S. in analytics from Villanova University. In his free time, you will likely find him enjoying the beautiful outdoors of the San Francisco Bay Area, rooting loudly for the Giants and Warriors, and laughing trying to keep up with his two young daughters.
Tria Deibert
SVP, Culture & Team Member Wellbeing
Hackensack Meridian Health
As senior vice president of Culture and Team Member Wellbeing at Hackensack Meridian Health, Tria collaborates with leaders and team members to co-design a workplace experience that makes team members fall in love, stay in love, and share their love for HMH with everyone they know. Tria has the privilege to develop strategies that elevate engagement, recognition, appreciation, and leadership, building a strong culture that supports the wellbeing of HMH's amazing team members so they can provide the best care.
Tria has been with Hackensack Meridian Health since 2005, when she joined as a marketing manager for Riverview Medical Center. She has held various leadership roles, most recently, vice president, Culture and Team Member Experience. Prior to working in health care, Tria was a marketing executive in b-to-b publishing. Outside of work, she finds joy in creating memorable experiences with her husband and son…especially when they are in Charleston!
Tria has a BA in Communications from St. John Fisher College and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Rider University.
Mary Baszkowski
Director, Culture & Team Member Experience
Hackensack Meridian Health
Mary's career at Hackensack Meridian Health began in 2016 within Human Resources. Her diverse experience spans the Team Member Service Center, Learning and Development, and now, Culture and Team Member Wellbeing. This breadth of knowledge allows her to approach team member experience with a holistic and insightful perspective.
When she's not busy cultivating a thriving workplace, Mary enjoys cooking/baking, entertaining, reading, and traveling with her husband and two sons.
Mary holds a Bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from The University of Arizona Global Campus. She is also certified as an Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner from the David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry, DDI Facilitator, Civil Treatment Facilitator through ELI, Inc., and a Certified Facilitator for the Leadership Challenge.
Mike Brezina
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Hilcorp Energy Company
Mr. Brezina holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lamar University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Houston.
Jillian Jopling
Senior Vice President, Lower 48
Hilcorp Energy Company
Ms. Jopling holds a Bachelor’s in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Meghan Magette
Vice President, Recruiting & Employer Brand
Hilton
With a passion for creating outstanding workplace environments, Meghan focuses on the power of recruitment and employer branding to highlight the vast career opportunities and growth within the hospitality industry. She collaborates closely with Hilton’s Marketing team to bridge the consumer and employer brands showing Hilton is not only the best place to stay, but also the best place to work.
A proud graduate of the University of Tennessee, Meghan lives in Maryland with her husband and three young children.
Blaire Bhojwani
Vice President, Learning
Hilton
Sarah Reid Fletcher
Director, Employer Brand & Early Talent Partnerships
Hilton
Martess Green
Senior Manager, Learning
Hilton
Marisa Milton
Senior Vice President – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Marriott International
Patricia Porter
VP, Head of Global Talent Acquisition and Mobility
MetLife
Patricia Porter is the Vice President, Head of Global Talent Acquisition and Mobility at MetLife. She is responsible for attracting, hiring, developing, and mobilizing talent across North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia markets. Patricia oversees employer branding, recruitment marketing, operations, strategic sourcing, veterans and transitioning military programs, mobility, diversity recruiting, employee referral, and alumni programs.
Prior to MetLife, she served as Vice President -Talent Acquisition at Booz Allen Hamilton. She led an international team of 300 professionals who were responsible for identifying and placing top talent in roles needed to support critical business priorities. In addition, she created the first diversity Women of Color and African American Forum engagement speaker series. Since then, she has hosted several roundtable discussions driving connections across the Women’s Employee Network and other Multicultural networks.
Patricia has more than 20 years of experience in developing and executing human capital strategies focused on technical talent with specialized skill sets across commercial, federal, and international markets. Her expertise demonstrates her passion for creating people strategies across talent management, executive recruiting, candidate experience, workforce planning, resource management, client engagements, and executive coaching.
She brings deep knowledge of human resources and has experience driving impact across the business ecosystem. She has reimagined talent acquisition – applying data-driven insights, innovative solutions, and built strong partnerships to increase greater levels of talent excellence. Patricia has won several industry recognized awards, led several organizational transformations to include the work she is doing to transform the talent marketplace at MetLife.
Patricia sits on the Board of Directors at Two Six Technologies providing insight to support its talent strategy priorities. She is also on the Marymount University Alumni Business Innovation Leadership and Technology board. Patricia holds a Master’s in Organizational Development from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Marymount University.
Jessica Fuller
VP of People & Culture Consulting
Mosaic Consulting Group
Jessica has led the People & Culture team at Mosaic through significant growth and change, including multiple acquisitions and cultural integration of the new teams. She developed tools like people analytics dashboards and a pay equity model to ensure transparency and improve business outcomes. These initiatives not only helped improve employee engagement but also saved over $2 million annually through turnover reduction and optimizing health insurance programs.
Jessica’s passion is to balance the human side of HR with the power of data. By using metrics to inform strategy while focusing on employee needs, she has helped companies grow and scale efficiently. Her approach to HR is practical and people-centered, ensuring that business goals and employee well-being are aligned.
Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from William James College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Krystyn Sadler
CEO and Culture Warrior
Mosaic Consulting Group
Krystyn has an extensive background in Human Resources in the healthcare, legal, and professional services industries. During this time, her focus and impact were within the talent acquisition and retention strategy, employee engagement and well-being, and HR operations and compliance. This experience, coupled with her overall business impact, has provided an opportunity to help guide other leaders who are looking to make a difference in their organizations.
In her free time, Krystyn enjoys watching her two boys, Austin and Garrett, play sports, particularly baseball and soccer. She and her husband are big Chicago Cubs fans, and they like to visit different stadiums around the country. Krystyn is an avid reader with a passion for continuous learning in business, psychology, and organizational culture.
Beau Davidson
Vice President, Employee Experience
NVIDIA
Beau graduated from Cornell University with a Master’s in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and holds a Bachelors degree from Rutgers University.
Thomas Goggin
AVP, Talent & Culture
Penn Mutual
Thomas earned his master's degree from Cornell University's ILR School and bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland. He resides in Philadelphia, PA, with his wife, Perla, and their dog, León.
Kim Jones
Talent Strategy and People Experience Leader
PwC
Jayney Howson
Senior Vice President, Global Learning and Development
ServiceNow
She built a successful career in marketing and sales before realizing her true passion lies in transforming workplaces into vibrant playgrounds for growth and continuous learning. Most recently, she was the SVP of Global Sales Enablement at Salesforce, spearheading learning transformation around the globe.
Jayney is based in London but is often globetrotting to collaborate with ServiceNow employees and customers.
She's a dedicated and dynamic leader, but also a devoted parent of two with her better half, Chris. In her free time, she enjoys a spot of retail therapy, indulges in some questionable TV, and immerses herself in leadership podcasts.
Jayney insists that people do better when they operate outside of their comfort zone, so she spends a lot of time there too!
Cynthia Crowder Bryant
Sr. Director, Talent Strategy and DEIB Programs
SCAN Health Plan
As the Head of Talent Strategy and DEIB Programs at SCAN Health Plan, Cynthia leads efforts to build a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and belonging (DEIB) workforce. She is at the forefront of designing and implementing innovative talent management strategies, including internal pipeline and succession planning, conducting talent reviews, and driving employee engagement and retention initiatives.
Cynthia’s passion for DEIB is exemplified by her work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where she has successfully transformed them into powerful platforms for organizational change. She empowers employees to own their unique perspectives, skills, and capabilities, fostering a culture where voices are confidently shared, and employees contribute meaningfully to the business. Through her leadership, Cynthia has consistently driven people transformations that deliver real impact and innovation across organizations.
Denise Bober
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
The Breakers Palm Beach
With an impressive 35-year career at The Breakers, Bober has implemented numerous initiatives and programs that prioritize employee well-being and fulfillment. She is responsible for developing and evolving The Breakers' Culture of Care and Well-being, ensuring that the company fosters a positive and supportive environment for its staff. Her approach is rooted in her deep respect for people and commitment to providing a nurturing environment where employees can thrive and develop. Through her efforts, The Breakers has gained a reputation as an award-winning employer of choice, as well as a leader in social impact, demonstrating a profound dedication to team, community, and environment.
Bober initially joined The Breakers in 1988 as a human resources assistant, progressing through the division she now leads. She assumed the role of director of human resources in 1997, where she immediately centralized hiring and staff relations functions while focusing on expanding recruitment, benefits, training and development, employee recognition, wellness initiatives, and community service. Her efforts have transformed the human resources function from a personnel department into a front-of-organization division. In recognition of her contributions, she was promoted to vice president of human resources in 2015, and further elevated to senior vice president in 2019. She currently serves on the resort’s Executive Group.
Bober holds a degree in Hospitality Management from Nova Southeastern University and a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Development from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She sets the example professionally as a member of the Executive Women’s Association of the Palm Beaches and Global Women 4 Wellbeing. She also previously served as chair of the Palm Health Foundation and past president of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, the Global Wellness Institute recognized Ms. Bober as a Leader in Workplace Wellness and Palm Beach Atlantic University named her one of its 50 Most Notable Alumni. In 2020, the South Florida Business Journal honored Ms. Bober as one of its Most Influential Business Women.
Pat Ciavola
VP of People & Culture Consulting
Mosaic Consulting Group
Ciavola initially joined The Breakers in 1993 as the activities manager and progressed through club operations management roles overseeing activities, golf, tennis, and pool and beach operations. She then pivoted to Human Resources in 2001 to build the staff development programs and services company-wide. Her passion for helping others discover and nurture their best selves fuels her creative thinking, designing and bringing to life opportunities for the team to engage and thrive.
JToday Ciavola serves as the director – team member development and oversees education, personal and professional development, wellness programs, team member café operations, rewards and recognition, employee opinion survey, and culture audit for over 2300 team members. The emphasis of these programs addresses team members’ well-being in multiple dimensions: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, social and occupational. She has worked collaboratively to build a culture of care and well-being since 2004 to help elevate team members’ lives. She chairs the Wellness Team and serves as a member of The Breakers Senior Management Group.
Ciavola holds a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southeastern Massachusetts University. She has served in several volunteer capacities for the Town of Palm Beach United Way, as a Pet Partners pet therapy handler, and a faculty member of The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA).
Mark Joslyn
Vice President of Human Resources and Information Technology
Trek Bicycle
Mark earned degrees from Denison University and Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and has served on non-profit boards in Wisconsin. Mark is a triathlete and cyclist who has completed events around the world. He has three children and lives with his wife, Michele, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Alan Winters
Chief People and Diversity Officer and Deputy Chief Global Compliance Officer
Teleperformance
Beyond the business process outsourcing sector, Alan has more than 25 years of experience leading global Fortune 500 corporations across diverse industries including financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, and retail. He has extensive background leading large workforces in driving culture change and has developed customer experience programs and outsourcing models to help drive both customer satisfaction and efficiency.
Alan earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree from Lee Business School at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.
Peggy Riley
Vice President, Employee Communications & Engagement
Wegmans Food Markets