2024 Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) Conference
Elevate Your Reach - Together
Speaker Bios

Raquel M. Arredondo
The Inaugural Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Raquel M. Arredondo is the inaugural Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. In this role, Raquel drives School-wide DEI initiatives and strategies to promote an inclusive learning and workplace environment. She works with faculty, staff and students to create inclusive and equitable policies and procedures and implement learning and development to enhance cultural competencies and increase global mindset. Raquel brings to this role experience in consulting, human resources and higher education. She has worked at institutions such as Penn State University, Rutgers University, and most recently Drexel University, delivering educational, professional, and diversity programming and initiatives. She has also served as a training consultant, facilitating professional and leadership development programs nationally. Raquel is a first generation Cuban-American whose educational background includes a BA in Psychology from George Mason University, an MA in Higher Education from Rowan University, a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation from The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education from the University of Michigan, and a Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Cornell University. Originally from the Bronx, NY, Raquel lives in South Jersey with her husband and two sons.

Elaine Cheong
Diversity of Thought & DI Advocate, Board Chair, Emerging Growth & Tech
International & Corporate Banking
Elaine is a team leader driving new business origination and portfolio relationship management focused on delivering global banking solutions to U.S. based multinational clients in the areas of Corporate Finance, Liquidity Management, Global Supply Chain, Financial Risk Management and Investment Banking. Her strong relationship building skills and ability to work across cultures within diverse business environments makes her an effective team player and trusted advisor to her clients. Elaine has been with Bank of America for over 20 years and is currently the SVP Transformative Technology Group Lead, PA, DE and Southern Jersey at Bank of America. She was the SVP Global Commercial Banking for over 8 years. Elaine worked at various large banks in Australia and Singapore before joining BOA. Elaine received a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University in Australia and a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate finance, banking, corporate, finance, and securities law from RMIT University. Elaine is the President of Ascend Greater Philadelphia and the Chair of Asian Leadership Network Greater Philadelphia at BOA.

Jeanie Y. Chang
Founder and CEO
Noona's Noonchi®
Jeanie Y. Chang, LMFT, CCTP is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She is a TEDx speaker and accomplished international speaker/educator providing keynotes and workshops for corporations, community organizations, and colleges addressing the intersectionality of mental health and identity, K-Dramas and identity, DEIB and psychological safety, as well as education about topics such as burnout, resilience, mindfulness, stress, and mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Jeanie also serves as a subject matter expert on mental health for media outlets around the world. Jeanie is the Founder and CEO of Noona's Noonchi®, LLC, a global wellness company created out of her global social media influence as Noona’s Noonchi - a clinician, speaker, and coach who deep dives into K-Dramas from a mental health perspective. Noona’s Noonchi®, LLC provides mental health education and resources for organizations around the world. It is also a global tour operator, offering K-Culture healing tours including K-Drama filming locations, popular K-Pop sites, cultural immersion, and mindfulness sessions. In addition, Jeanie is also an executive coach, external faculty for McKinsey & Company and a DEIB advisor for business and corporate leaders. Jeanie's book with Wiley Publishing titled, "How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health" was released with a strong, global response on May 7, 2024. Jeanie is also the Founder and CEO of Your Change Provider, PLLC®, a clinical practice founded on solutions and her unique, trademarked framework Cultural Confidence®. Her Cultural Confidence® program provides psycho-education in all sectors from corporate to schools. She has presented her trademarked curriculum for many corporations such as Google, J. Crew, Microsoft, Mondelez International, and the NFL. She has also spearheaded her program for non-profits including the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Jeanie has specialized training in grief, trauma and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her expertise includes intergenerational mental health, workplace mental health, and K-Dramas for mental health. She followed a calling in the field after a diverse career path, starting as a broadcast journalist in Washington, DC in the '90s, then attending business school. Her work in the corporate sector includes C-level business operations, marketing, public relations, and client success management. Jeanie is an active volunteer in the AAPI community. She serves as Board Chair of Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) and is a facilitator for the Council of Korean American's Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) program. In 2019, Jeanie created the Self-Care & Wellness program for NAAAP, and founded her own non-profit organization in 2020 called, Authentic Self-Care & Wellness, Inc. which promotes mental health research. For her own self-care, Jeanie enjoy watching K-Dramas and traveling with her husband of 26 years. They are the proud parents of four children ages 17-24.

Mellie Chow
Venture Partner
Archangel
Mellie Chow is a venture capitalist/angel investor, entrepreneur, IT/Technology and Management/Strategy Consultant and Product Innovation Executive with 20+ years of experience across multiple industries including telecommunications & cable, utilities & power generation, banking, healthcare, government, and food. She is a Venture Partner at Archangel, Axion Fund and the former Executive Director, Competitive Research & Product Strategy within a fortune 50 Company. Mellie holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern) and the Schulich School of Business (York University). Mellie resides in Philadelphia but will always call Canada home.

Jennifer Coffey
Nationally-broadcast television host
Cable network QVC
Jennifer Coffey is a nationally-broadcast television host of 15 years on the cable network QVC. She's a corporate keynote and motivational speaker, wellness and fitness coach, and content creator. Her social media following of over 250,000 come to her for advice on manifesting their highest goals and aspirations. She resides in Wayne, PA with her husband, Davinder Athwal.

Susan Jin Davis
Social Impact Officer
Al Roker Entertainment
Susan Jin Davis has 30 years of experience in the telecommunications, media, entertainment, and technology industries with a focus on areas of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). She currently serves as Social Impact Officer for Al Roker Entertainment, a leading producer of TV, digital, branded programming, and entertainment. Ms. Jin Davis is a highly demanded public speaker on diversity, equity, & inclusion, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, among other areas. She is also actively engaged in providing consulting on inclusive leadership and organizational development, business development and strategy, and sustainability. She is considered an expert on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). She is also an advisor for ALO Advisors, an SWC company that specializes in areas of sustainability, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. Ms. Jin Davis also serves as on-call faculty for the Center for Creative Learning in the areas of organizational leadership, women’s leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is also a Systems Designer for the Antiracist Development Institute of Penn State Dickinson Law, established to dismantle structures that scaffold systemic racial inequality using a systems design approach for the purpose of achieving systemic equity and offering organizations across the country systems design-based approaches to implementing antiracist practices, processes, and policies throughout each of their functions. Most recently, Ms. Jin Davis was a senior executive at Comcast Corporation, where she served as its first Chief Sustainability Officer. Ms. Jin Davis was responsible for identifying sustainable strategies and priorities and for implementing the company’s Sustainability Program across all of Comcast NBCUniversal business units and functions. She created the framework for the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance disclosures; she established Comcast NBCUniversal’s renewable energy strategy, and implemented energy efficiency initiatives across Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Comcast Spectacor. In addition, Ms. Jin Davis created Comcast NBCUniversal’s zero waste strategy and co-led its future of fleet strategy, transforming the company’s fleet to low-carbon vehicles. Prior to being the CSO, Ms. Jin Davis held senior executive roles in compliance, operations, cybersecurity, and finance. Ms. Jin Davis is a well-experienced and well-respected executive in diversity, equity, and inclusion. While at Comcast, Ms. Jin Davis negotiated a historic Memorandum of Understanding between Comcast and the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) national community as part of the company’s acquisition of NBCUniversal. This created ground-breaking diversity commitments in the areas of programming, supplier and employment, and community investment. She served on Comcast’s Internal Diversity Council, and she was the company liaison to the external Comcast NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council. Ms. Jin Davis was the executive sponsor of Asian Pacific Americans at Comcast, a company-sponsored employee resource group, which focuses on the recruiting, promotion, and development of Asian American and Pacific Islander talent. She has helped to create leadership development programming for Comcast’s Asian American employees. Prior to Comcast, Ms. Jin Davis worked for a Silicon Valley-based technology company, Covad Communications, in a multitude of roles including interim General Counsel, Vice President of Investor Relations, and in regulatory and legislative affairs. An advocate for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) in business and corporate America, she is active in the AANHPI community nationally, serving as the Chair of the Board of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and serves on the Board of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE). She is a current member of the Board of Directors for Chestnut Hill College and Gabrielle’s Wings and serves on the Sustainability Advisory Board for Penn State University’s Smeal School of Business. Ms Jin Davis was recently appointed to the Governor’s Commission on AAPI Affairs by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. She also served on the transition committee on multicultural and immigrant affairs of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College, where she served on the Board of Trustees, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Dickinson School of Law of Penn State University.

Grace Francisco
Founder
m2i
Grace Francisco is a seasoned developer strategy executive with over 20 years of experience in software across enterprise, small business, fintech, consumer, and gaming. She has co-authored three patents and led worldwide developer initiatives at Microsoft, Intuit, Yodlee, Atlassian, Roblox, MongoDB and Cisco. Grace was most recently technical CMO for cybersecurity platform Pangea Cyber, currently a founding board member for AI Data Coop, Founder of advisory firm m2i, and was previously a board member of the Drupal Association. Grace is a strategic angel investor in numerous startups and an LP at Emmeline Ventures. She’s also a diversity advocate, having established new diversity programs at Microsoft and Atlassian and was an executive sponsor for diversity initiatives at Cisco. Grace is often speaking or writing about APIs, AI, cybersecurity, developer trends and leadership.

Zach Heng, SHRM-CP
Senior DEI Advisor
Vanguard
A proud alumnus of Florida State University (FSU), Zach Heng is a dynamic leader and strategist with over 17 years of experience spanning technology and management consulting, organizational change management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). His career, which intersects the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, includes supporting various Fortune 500 companies and U.S. Federal Government agencies. Currently, Zach serves as a Senior DEI Advisor at Vanguard, where he advances enterprise-wide DEI initiatives for the shared services businesses. Prior to joining Vanguard, he spent over seven years at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he led transformative efforts as Global Co-chair of the Multicultural Business Resource Group. In this role, he spearheaded innovative career development and engagement programs that significantly enhanced promotion opportunities and improved the recruitment and retention of underrepresented talent. Zach's leadership extends beyond the corporate realm. He is a passionate advocate for giving back and advancing various communities. His current and past leadership roles include: • President, Greater Washington Chapter of Ascend • National Board Director, FSU Alumni Association • Board Director, DC Chamber of Commerce • Board Director, Asian American Chamber of Commerce • Advisory Board Member, Fruit Street Health Corporation • Executive Producer, AAPI short film Golden Garden Takeout In addition to his corporate achievements, Zach is an entrepreneur as the owner/operator of The Heng Group, a marketing agency specializing in social media strategy and content development. His agency’s client roster includes major brands like Dunkin', Bloomin’ Brands, and Rabbit Hole Distillery.

Xihao Hu
Chief Financial Officer
TD Bank
Xihao Hu is responsible for the global finance team across multiple jurisdictions, supporting various lines of business, managing capital and liquidity, and overseeing financial, management and regulatory reporting, and related internal controls. Xihao also provides value-added insights, financial advice, and in-depth performance analysis to achieve the firm’s overall vision and business strategies. Xihao’s journey with TD began just over 13 years ago, and during this timeframe, he has held the roles of TD Bank Group (TDBG) Chief Accountant; TDBG Chief Auditor, and Chief Financial Officer at TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank. Prior to joining TD, Xihao Hu was a partner with Deloitte in its Assurance and Advisory practice. Xihao currently leads the enterprise Visible Minority pillar under the TDBG Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC). An advocate for giving back to the community, Xihao serves on the Jefferson Health New Jersey Board – Jefferson Health is the largest health system in the Philadelphia region, and on the Bemidji State University (BSU) Alumni & Foundation Board of Directors. Xihao Hu completed the CFO Leadership Program by Harvard Business School and the Asian American Executive Program by Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Accounting from Bemidji State University.

Katie Kitchen
VP, Human Resources
Platforms & Technology, TD
Katie Kitchen leads Human Resources for TD’s Technology Platforms. In this role, Katie is responsible for building and driving the talent agenda to deliver on our promises to customers, shareholders, and colleagues. Prior to joining TD, Katie worked across many industries. Most recently, she worked at Manulife leading Human Resources for Canada. She’s also held roles across many HR portfolios at Deloitte Consulting and BlackBerry including M&A, HR Strategy, Future of Work, HR Partnering, Leadership and Organizational Development. Katie holds a Master’s in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia, and a BBA from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. When not at work it’s family, friends, and animals that often occupy her time and heart. You can often find her out for walks with her dog, at horse jumping shows with her daughter, or supporting her Mom’s social calendar.

Sudhir Kondisetty
RSM’s National Leader
Technology Risk Consulting
Sudhir Kondisetty is RSM’s national leader for technology risk consulting, setting the strategic direction for the firm’s technology risk services which include information technology (IT) internal audit/Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), IT external audit support, IT risk assessments, system and organization control (SOC) report services, and other IT risk related services. Additionally, Sudhir serves as the office leader of the Philadelphia office where he is responsible for driving growth in the market and maintaining a strong employee culture in the firm. Lastly, he served as an elected member of RSM’s board of directors for a five-year term. In this role, Sudhir provided oversight of the firm’s executive leadership team and participated in developing the firm’s long term strategic direction. In addition to his responsibilities at RSM, Sudhir is involved in a number of a charitable organizations that focus on improving educational and career advancement for underrepresented minorities. This includes: •Ascend Greater Philadelphia, board member •HELP Foundation, board member •Collective Success Network, board member Sudhir holds a bachelor degree in computer science from Bucknell University as well the following professional certifications: •Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) •Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) •Certified NACD Corporate Directorship

Chung Li
Executive Director
DE&I Analytics at Comcast
Chung Li is the Executive Director of DE&I Analytics at Comcast, bringing nearly 20 years of expertise in data analytics, DE&I, community impact, and customer experience. Known for her strategic insights and innovative thinking, Chung partners with senior executives to leverage data-driven insights that optimize business potential and advance DE&I initiatives. Her passion for storytelling through data visualization allows her to effectively communicate complex insights, influencing decisions and driving impactful outcomes. Chung is dedicated to mentoring and developing future leaders, fostering a culture of growth, inclusivity, and innovation. She holds a Master of Science in Business Intelligence & Analytics from Saint Joseph's University, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Drexel University, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. Chung also serves on the Board of Directors for Tree House Books, a nonprofit committed to ensuring every child has access to books and opportunities to explore their dreams.

Andrea Maeng
Strozzi Institute for Somatics
Andrea Maeng (she/her) is a compassionate leader dedicated to supporting others in having the tools, resources and community for generational healing and global impact. Prior to joining Strozzi Institute for Somatics, Andrea established a coaching practice as a certified Ontological Life and Leadership coach specializing in breathwork, embodiment and mindfulness as pathways for transformation. Her focus centered on empowering individuals to cultivate the confidence, courage, and clarity necessary for authentic leadership in their professional and personal lives. Notably, Andrea curated transformative spaces and experiences tailored to the unique needs of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants, particularly Asian women worldwide. Outside of her professional endeavors, Andrea finds joy in exploring new culinary experiences and delights in asking thought-provoking questions—a testament to her innate ability to foster meaningful connections. She is a proud Korean-American and daughter of immigrants driven by a passion for learning and connection and currently resides in Philadelphia.

James Martielli
Head of Investment and Trading
Vanguard
James Martielli, CFA, CAIA, heads Investment & Trading Services (ITS), which educates individual investors about Vanguard’s products and guides them to make investment decisions with confidence. ITS also provides trade execution for stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, CDs, and mutual funds on Vanguard’s retail brokerage platform. From 2017-2022, he led Investment Solutions, which delivers investment perspectives, evaluations, and custom investment products to plan sponsors and institutional investors. From 2014-2017, he led Portfolio Review, Asia, based in Hong Kong, where he was responsible for product management and development, capital markets, and specialist client engagement. Mr. Martielli served as a senior investment director on the oversight and manager search team in Portfolio Review Department from 2009-2014, where he focused on quantitative equity, active fixed income, and ESG products. Before joining Vanguard, Mr. Martielli spent over 14 years with SEI Investments, where he constructed and managed subadvisor portfolios. From 1994 to 2003, he developed and managed fixed income portfolios, which included a three-year expatriate assignment based in London. From 2003 to 2009, he held various positions within the firm’s equity team. Mr. Martielli earned a B.S. in industrial management and economics from Carnegie Mellon University with university honors. He is a CFA® charterholder, a reading reviewer for the CFA Institute, and a CAIA® charterholder. He is an advisory board member for Lifting and Empowering Asian Professionals (LEAP) and allyship lead for Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) Vanguard crew resource groups. He was Global Committee chair and executive committee member for the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association from 2018-2022.

Kris Mendoza
Executive Producer
Maestro Filmworks
Kris Mendoza is the Executive Producer at Maestro Filmworks, a film production company he founded in 2005 as a one man band and has grown into a full service production company. With an undergrad degree in Film from NYU and an MBA from Wharton, Kris believes his super power is bridging the gap between creativity and business. As a company, Maestro has excelled over the last 19 years at client work in the agency and B2B space producing work for Fortune 50 companies like Deloitte, Meta, and Comcast, to name a few. The company was also recognized in Inc Magazine’s Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the US in 2021. As an individual, Kris has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including (2) Emmy Awards for his producing work on two seasons of FTW Philly, an unscripted show on competitive gaming which aired on NBC Sports, as well as being recognized in 2022’s 40 Under 40 class by the Philadelphia Business Journal, and an honor in the inaugural Forbes Next1000 list, a "first-of-its-kind initiative celebrating bold and inspiring entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to run a business today." A combined ethos across both personal and company fronts is Kris’ intentional focus on diversity in the industry, ensuring that he is pursuing projects with stories that need to be told, doing so by creating space for filmmakers from under-represented backgrounds. In addition to being an active member of the Producers Guild of America, Kris is on a number of boards, serving as current Board Chair of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Big Picture Alliance, and Moore College of Arts Advisory Board.

Christopher Mora
Chief Revenue Officer
Centri Business Consulting, LLC
Christopher Mora is a Partner at Centri Business Consulting, LLC, the leader of the firm’s Capital Markets practice and Chief Revenue Officer. He specializes in the delivery of capital market readiness and financial reporting to clients across several industries including fintech, financial services, life sciences, health/wellness, telecommunications, private equity, real estate, and construction. He regularly advises clients on the accounting treatment of various transactions, including complex debt/equity transactions, business combinations, reverse mergers, revenue recognition, lease accounting and various SEC related issues. Christopher has led, advised and participated in dozens of IPO, SPAC, and M&A transactions in which he provides pre-audit and technical accounting support, drafts financial statements and Forms S-1, S-4, 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and associated correspondence with the SEC. Christopher received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania.

Weber Ng
Senior Site Manufacturing Director
Dow
Weber Ng started his career at Texas Operations in 2007 as a Process Control Engineer in the Chlorohydrin Tech Center supporting the Freeport B23/B68 plants. He took on the Allyl1 Run Plant Engineer role in June 2010 and later Run Plant Engineer for PDC Hydro Train 1 and 2, he then Unit Leader responsibilities for the B68 block. In 2014, Weber joined the Gulfstream Project as Operations Leader for Poly 5&6 through organization development, training, pre-comm, C&SU and stabilization. In 2019, he took an international assignment as Technical Liaison for the Mitsui Dow Polychemicals Joint Venture in Japan supporting integration. Weber was named to the Poly D Production Leader role in 2021. In 2023, he and his family relocated to the Philadelphia area and took on the Bristol Croydon Operations Site Leader role. He also leads the Global A.D.N. ERG as Chair. Married to Jacquelin with 3 children (Joshua-17, Rachel-13, Matthew-10).

Avani Parekh
EVP, Ascend Greater Philadelphia Chapter
SVP, Risk Executive Advisor
Avani brings 20 years of experience in risk management, audit, and consulting services. She excels in designing and implementing risk strategies across large organizations, enhancing risk identification, and fostering partnerships with diverse perspectives. Currently, she is seconded to work for the Board. In her most recent role as TD's Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Avani led a team of ~40 professionals, accountable for ERM strategy development, Risk Appetite Statement, Board Risk Reporting, and firm-wide governance. She played a vital role in integrating Environmental and Social (ESG) risk strategies within TD's risk frameworks. Previously, Avani worked 8 years within Ernst & Young's Risk & Assurance practice. Avani holds a Finance degree with a minor in Management Information Systems from University of Delaware and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. She has a certification in Advanced Risk Management from Wharton School of Business. Avani's leadership extends beyond her role; she chairs the Risk Management Association's ERM Risk Council and serves on their Board (ex officio). She is also the sponsor of TD's Risk Multi-Cultural Network. Her dedication to developing talent, diversity & inclusion, and continuous learning reflects her passion for personal and professional growth.

Sushma Rajagopalan
Partner
Rittenhouse Ventures Fund III in Philadelphia
Sushma Rajagopalan is a global leader who is extremely skilled in scaling companies and passionate about technology entrepreneurship & innovation. She is a Partner with Rittenhouse Ventures Fund III in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Ventures is an investor in emerging growth software companies focused in HealthTech, PharmaTech, FinTech, HRTech and general B2B SaaS. Her framework for success rests on designing and executing strategies that result in rapid scale up, building an innovation ecosystem, driving a high-performance culture, staying ahead of technology trends and globalization through effective partnerships. Her management style can be described as strategic, entrepreneurial and inclusive. She leads with 4Cs – Clarity of thought, Courage of Conviction, Charisma to carry the team and True to Character always! Sushma was the CEO of ITC infotech, a global technology solutions company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of a $10B+ leading consumer product goods company ITC in India. She has more than 25 years of experience as a Chief Strategy Officer, and CEO/President of technology companies in the US and India including LiquidHub (Wayne, PA), Larsen & Toubro (Edison & Mumbai) Igate ( Pittsburgh), Citibank and CMC (now part of TCS). Sushma has an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in entrepreneurship & strategy, in addition to a Master’s degree in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India. She actively mentors companies and women entrepreneurs and CEOs in the US & India as a member of Harvard’s mentorship program, PACT, MADV; The Nudge Institute & 1Crowd. She is on the boards of BenFranklin Technology Partners of South Eastern PA where she is the Vice Chair of the Corporate Development Committee, and Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens in Devon, Pennsylvania where she is the Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. She was the Chair of IT Services @ the National Association of Software Services Companies (Nasscom) and a Charter Member of TiE Philadelphia. She also serves on the boards of several technology companies in New Jersey, Philadelphia, India & California. She has recently co-founded a global company, with two other women, Shanthi Naresh who just retired as a Partner @Mercer and Sudha Srinivasan who was the CEO of The Nudge Institute, called 2nd Careers, headquartered in Pennsylvania. 2nd Careers focusses on helping professionals over 50 years form a community, reskill and upskill themselves and find gainful employment. She is passionate about Yoga, photography, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. She resides in Devon, PA.

Joe Sanchez
Site Learning & Development Director
Merck
Dr. Sanchez received his degree in Molecular Genetics from the University of Rochester (NY) and completed his post-doc and research fellowship with the National Institutes of Health (NIDA/NIH). He spent 20+ years as a research scientist and student mentor in academic, government and biopharmaceutical settings, ultimately focusing on the implementation of data-driven instructional practices and assessment methodologies. In previous Learning and Talent Development and Global Corporate Affairs roles for AstraZeneca, he was accountable for Compliance Training and Education, Strategic Workforce Planning, Talent Pipeline Development and Organization Effectiveness. Currently, he drives similar objectives as Director of Learning and Talent Development for Merck Vaccine Operations, and serves as the West Point, PA Site Sponsor of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

Lata Setty
Serial digital transformation innovator
Lata Setty is a lover of journeys - journeying from scientist turned patent trial attorney turned serial "digital transformation" innovator/’trep - now a venture investor, driven to embolden other female founders’ journeys. Trekking over 65 countries following the acquisition of her second startup, she leverages her startup expertise to hunt for nanocorns and accelerate female-founded companies bridging science, business, law & tech. Previously a co-founder successfully exiting several companies that have revolutionized antiquated industries, funded by Sequoia Capital, Goldman Sachs, Canaan Partners, etc., she has fully experienced the cataclysmic gender disparity in VC funding, inspiring her to become the 1st Investor at How Women Invest Funds I, II & III (“HWI”). https://www.northbaybiz.com/2020/12/03/venture-capitalism-the-female-factor-a-profile-on-lata-setty/ HWI is an early-stage VC firm seeking to monetize the untapped economic potential at the intersection of female founders & female investors. Investing in female founded startups may sound like a noble mission, but it’s a critical protective mechanism and a good business decision as female-led startups generate 26% more cumulative revenue over a 5-year period than male-led startups. Her motto: investing in female founders is good for people, planet & profits since female founders return 78 cents per dollar invested, while their male counterparts generate 38 cents ROI. Lata is driven to shatter the inequity of the 1.7% of VC$$ invested in female-founded startups (0.5% in WoC founders) while also “democratizing" the investor side of the equation offering accredited investors access to invest in a venture fund for the first time - providing strategic and intellectual capital, along with financial capital, to female founders. HWI is singularly focused on engaging women who want to align their wealth with their values by “voting with their dollars” and Lata is thrilled to mobilize 10,000 women by 2025 to invest in VC building "The New Table" with a tribe of trailblazers, and officially launched their $100 Million Fund lll by ringing the bell at NASDAQ in 2023. https://www.lataunleashed.com/post/ringing-nasdaq-closing-bell-a-mere-moment-or-a-revolutionary-movement Giving back serves as her North Star in every step of her earthly journey and Lata is heavily invested as a Charter Member in The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE.org), the largest ecosystem of investors & entrepreneurs with 15,000+ members spanning 60 chapters across the globe (open to ALL - not limited to the "Indian diaspora"). She serves on their NJ Board championing TiE Women’s SIG fortifying the journey of female founders with connections, community & capital, and thrilled to judge their all-female "Shark Tank" pitch competitions. She is honored to serve on numerous Boards including on the Board of Directors at her Alma Mater, the University of Iowa Boyd School of Law, Chairs the Minority In-House Counsel Association, leads Speakers Committee in her Tiburon, CA Rotary Club, etc. She is currently most exhilarated to catalyze diverse inventors & innovators (increase diverse/female patent holders) https://www.lataunleashed.com/post/interviewing-gitanjali-rao-time-s-first-kid-of-the-year and underrepresented investors to work in the VC sector, focused on recruiting more girls to work in venture capital across the globe.

Simi Shah
Founder and CEO
South Asian Trailblazers
Simi Shah is a mission-driven media entrepreneur, strategist, speaker, and convener. Simi is the Founder and CEO of South Asian Trailblazers, an award-winning media platform, community, and agency that elevates leading South Asians and convenes them. Through their eponymous podcast, Simi is known for her captivating interviews with trailblazers like ClassPass Founder Payal Kadakia and Actor Kal Penn. Through her Agency, Simi forges partnerships between leading talent and global organizations for speaking/advisory engagements and brand partnerships. She also advises burgeoning brands and high-profile individuals on strategic media, marketing, and growth opportunities. Simi recently served as Chief of Staff to Indra Nooyi, the former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, during the launch of her memoir, My Life in Full. Beyond media, Simi devotes her time to angel investing, speaking, and writing. In recent years, she served as Head of Business Development at venture-backed media startup, Paperwork Studios. She began her career in finance as an Investment Analyst at Audax Private Equity. Simi is deeply passionate about her communities. She is 1 of 8 elected Marshals representing her Harvard Class and is an active alumna of Yard Ventures, Girls Who Invest, and the Harvard Asian Alumni community. Simi holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Simi is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Shefali Shah
Enterprise Strategy Office
Merck
Ms. Shefali Shah is a respected executive in the pharmaceutical industry and a visionary strategist in business transformation. She has 25 years of experience leading strategy and execution to fuel innovation across the globe. In her current role, she leads Enterprise Go to Market strategy development and implementation for inline and pipeline assets. In her previous role, she led Global Real Estate Services, a strategic corporate function that served global business by developing and executing cost effective real estate strategy, divestiture strategies, site acquisition selection, workplace transformation, master planning, occupancy planning and space utilization. During her tenure at Merck, she has developed a great reputation with a proven track record of success in various divisions. She has developed expertise in strategy development and execution, real estate & workplace transformation, marketing, policy, communications, manufacturing, supply chain, operations, quality, lean six sigma, change management and business transformation. Shefali is currently pursing Global C Suite Leadership Program at Wharton. She also holds an MBA with a concentration in Pharmaceutical Business from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; a Bachelor of Science in Toxicology from Rutgers University, NJ; and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, M. G Science University, India. She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, certified change management leader, behavioral coach, and trained Inclusion Change partner.

Miriam Shou
Principal
PwC
Miriam Shou is a principal at PwC in the Advisory Cyber, Risk, and Regulatory Data and Technology practice, specializing in the Pharma and Life Sciences sector. She delivers data-driven, tech-enabled solutions to manage enterprise-wide risks. With a focus on data and technology risk management, Miriam helps clients mitigate potential threats and critical risks by designing and implementing robust controls and technology solutions. In addition to serving her clients, Miriam leads Philadelphia Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) efforts for PwC. She is dedicated to advancing the firm’s DE&I strategy and initiatives while cultivating a workplace culture that values diversity and promotes inclusion. She champions PwC’s Creative Computing Program in Philadelphia - a workshop series dedicated to supporting familiarity and increasing fluency with computational creativity and thinking for 5th through 8th graders. Miriam holds Member-at-Large position on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. She is a Girl Scouts troop leader for her two daughters. Miriam received a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from Smeal School of Business at Pennsylvania State College, University Park, PA. She and her family live in Conshohocken, PA.

Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon
Restaurateur and Author
Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef, restaurateur and author of Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen, debuting November 5, 2024. A flight attendant from Trang, Thailand, Nok entered her second act at age 50 by opening Kalaya, one of the country’s highest-regarded Thai restaurants, named after Nok’s mother. Opened in April 2019 as a small BYOB in South Philadelphia, Kalaya was named one of Esquire's and Food & Wine’s “Best New Restaurants” and was a James Beard Foundation Award nominee for “Best New Restaurant” in 2020. In November 2022, Kalaya relocated to Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood with a larger footprint and bar program. Nok’s notoriously impeccable style has been featured in New York Magazine and Philadelphia Style Magazine; she was also named one of the “Most Influential Philadelphians” by Philadelphia Magazine. Nok’s TV appearances include the Philadelphia episode of Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil in 2021, and in 2024 a dedicated Season 7 episode on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table.

Dr. Stephen Tang
Chairman
NowDiagnostics Inc.
Dr. Stephen Tang is a renowned "renaissance man" dedicated to shaping the future of leadership and innovation. With over three decades of experience as Chairman or CEO of various for-profit, nonprofit, and government advisory boards, he brings a unique perspective rooted in his immigrant family's journey to America. In addition to his current role as Chairman of NowDiagnostics Inc., Dr. Tang is also a valued member of the Board of Directors for several prestigious institutions, including Lehigh University and the William & Mary Foundation. Beyond higher education, he is also passionate about better global public health, advancing democracy, and novel public-private partnerships. His distinguished leadership has been recognized with numerous awards. As a best-selling author, Dr. Tang's book "A Test for Our Time: Crisis Leadership in the Next Normal" has received widespread acclaim, elevating his status as a highly sought-after keynote speaker. His dynamic and forward-thinking approach has captivated audiences worldwide, inspiring leaders to embrace continuous growth and risk-taking. Dr. Tang has become a driving force in shaping the global leadership landscape through his bold ideas and infectious enthusiasm. His message of courage, vulnerability, and resilience strikes a chord with leaders facing today's chaotic world, making him a key influencer for change. Whether through his book, podcasts, or media outlets, Dr. Tang's insights continue to shape the future of leadership worldwide. Whether you are a seasoned leader or an aspiring one, Dr. Tang's insights will undoubtedly guide you toward further success. Take the opportunity to learn from a true trailblazer--follow Dr. Tang's journey and be part of shaping the future of leadership for generations to come. Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenstang/

Dee Yang
Senior Advisor
Systemiq
Dee Yang is a Senior Advisor at Systemiq, a pure-play sustainability advisory firm focused on systems change required for the transition. She’s leading the effort to set up the North American offices. Prior to this role, Dee was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, where she spent the last 6 years dedicated to climate and nature topics given the planetary emergency. She grew up in New York City after immigrating to the states when she was 10.