Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top Women Leaders of Houston for 2024. A worldwide cultural epicenter, the city of Houston has a flourishing international community, including the consular offices of 86 nations – the largest number in the country. Plus, the education level of Houston residents has continued to climb since the 1990s.
With so much diverse talent in one place, it’s no surprise that Houston also has booming medical and research industries and is home to some of the most well-known companies in the world, and many of these companies are being led by well-educated, ambitious women who call the Bayou City home.
One exceptionally ambitious woman leader is honoree Kindel Nuño, an Executive Vice President for household name Mattress Firm, the nation's largest specialty mattress retailer. Nuño oversees all legal, risk, compliance, and insurance functions for the company and is a sought-after voice for matters relating to strategic transactions, acquisitions, marketing, merchandising, and more.
Next, we acknowledge the accomplishments of forward-thinking leader, Stacie Prescott. As Chief Underwriting Officer and Head of Energy for insurance giant The Hartford, Prescott has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a certified instructor for insurance courses in all 50 states.
Also among this year’s awardees is financial industry leader, Kris Cobb. Cobb is a Senior Vice President for Wells Fargo Advisors who’s been with the company and its predecessor firms for the past 23 years – her entire career.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top Women Leaders of Houston for 2024.
Sarah Fedele
Principal, Deloitte & Touche
Sarah Fedele has specialized in internal audit (IA), internal controls, and risk management her entire career, currently leading the US Internal Audit practice within Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory, where she is a member of Deloitte’s Global Internal Audit executive team.
Fedele is hyper-focused on modernizing the IA profession and assisting clients with not only delivering assurance to stakeholders but advising on critical business issues, better-anticipating risk, and accelerating management action and organizational learning. Deloitte IA is driving innovation in areas, such as Agile IA, Digital IA, ESG, IT IA, Outsourcing/Co-Sourcing, and Sarbanes-Oxley Modernization and Compliance fully leveraging automation and greenhouse labs. To support advancement in the profession of internal audit, Fedele sits on the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Internal Audit Foundation Board of Trustees. Lastly, Fedele leads Deloitte’s Chief Audit Executive program, where she works closely with CAEs at every stage in their career journey to confidently manage the complexities and expectations of the role and to transform the way that they do business today.
Fedele graduated from Louisiana State University with an undergraduate degree in information systems and decision sciences and a concentration in internal audit. She is a certified internal auditor and certified in risk management assurance.
Stacie Prescott
Chief Underwriting Officer & Head of Energy, The Hartford
Stacie Prescott is the Chief Underwriting Officer & Head of Energy of The Hartford, a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits, and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust, and integrity.
In her role at The Hartford, Prescott is responsible for helping to establish the business unit’s primary market strategy along with accountability for production, profitability, underwriting, and compliance. She recently joined The Hartford from Zurich, where she served in multiple senior leadership roles in the company’s energy division. One of her key roles at Zurich was as the firm’s head of international programs for Zurich Energy and head of primary casualty for Zurich Energy. During her more than 30 years in the insurance industry, Prescott has held prior energy-related management, underwriting, and marketing positions at ACE Risk Management, Discover RE Managers, Inc., Kemper Risk Management, Reliance Insurance Group, and American International Group.
Prescott holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management with a minor in Finance. She is a certified instructor in all 50 states to lead and instruct continuing education courses for the Insurance Industry.
Victoria Okotie
Founder & CEO, Kevin Mitch Group
As Founder and CEO of Kevin Mitch Group, Victoria Okotie is passionate about driving client value. She is admired for her energy, dynamic leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. Leveraging her extensive global engineering experience in the energy industry, Okotie now leads a technology consulting company that provides data-driven solutions for small and large businesses. She is also the co-founder of TorchPoint, a career development consulting firm, while she mentors and advocates for women and diversity in leadership.
Okotie teaches graduate courses in business analytics part-time at the University of Houston. She co-authored the book Innovate Your Career – Become Indispensable and speaks at industry conferences and forums. Okotie is the recipient of several awards, including the distinguished recognition in Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women, and she is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Her love for learning is evident in her educational achievements and industry certifications. Okotie received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master's degree in Data Science from Texas Tech University. Okotie also holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology and a Doctorate from Concordia University Chicago, specializing in Strategic Leadership and Innovation.
Geeta Thakorlal
Executive Group Director, Worley
Geeta Thakorlal is the Executive Group Director of Worley, where she’s leading a working group to reimagine the future of project delivery backed by meticulous research and a 'future back' approach to keep pace with advancements in emerging and disruptive technologies, such as Gen AI to set up the organization for long-term growth.
Thakorlal has an influential industry presence and has held global leadership positions in technical consulting and operations in the international energy, chemicals, and resources sectors. In her previous role at Worley, she led the transformation of the technology, information security, data, and digital portfolios to enable the global organization to become a digitally enabled, data-driven, and knowledge-based technology organization, providing sustainable solutions.
Thakorlal has held a number of senior positions across Worley since joining in 2011, including president of INTECSEA and SVP of upstream, midstream, and LNG service lines. She is currently a member of the advisory council of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, as well as an executive advisory board member of the Offshore Technology Committee in Houston.
Reda Hicks
Managing Partner, Hicks PLLC
Reda Hicks is a Houston-based attorney and consultant, focused on helping companies and organizations perform better, make better connections, and achieve greater impact. She is an expert in organizational design/development and strategic planning, and serves as a general counsel and chief legal officer resource for organizations large and small. Reda is the President of Nexus Consulting, and the Managing Partner of Hicks PLLC.
Reda serves on the Boards of Texas Lyceum, Leadership Houston Endowment, and Impact Hub Houston. She also serves as a mentor in the non-profit and entrepreneurship space, including service on the Advisory Board of the Houston Christian University Women in Leadership Program, and as a mentor in the HCC Small Business Plan Competition. She frequently speaks on topics that include governance, board development, stewardship, corporate forms, change management, strategic planning, strategic partnership development, ecosystem mapping, and team dynamics.
A proud Army wife, Reda is a founding member of the Military Spouse JD Network. Reda is also a co-founder of the Keep Your Promise Alliance, and was named 2014 Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year for her advocacy on behalf of military families and veterans. She was the Houston Member for the inaugural Texas Veteran Spouse Network Steering Committee, and is an alumnus of the Military Family Advisory Network Advisory Board. She is also a 2020/2021 Presidential Leadership Scholars Fellow.
Kindel Nuño
EVP, Legal, General Counsel, & Secretary, Mattress Firm
Kindel Nuño currently serves as EVP, Legal, General Counsel, and Secretary of Mattress Firm, Inc., the nation's largest specialty mattress retailer, operating over 2,400 retail stores across the country. Nuño joined Mattress Firm in July 2012 as its sole attorney, in the role of VP and general counsel. She was promoted to EVP in January 2014.
Nuño is responsible for the oversight and management of the legal, risk, compliance, insurance, and, until July 2020, internal audit functions. She regularly advises on strategic transactions and provides guidance and assistance in connection with acquisitions, marketing, merchandising, operations, safety, real estate and lease administration, commercial, corporate governance, intellectual property, employee relations, franchisee, and financing matters.
Prior to joining Mattress Firm, Nuño worked with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. She spent one year on secondment in Tokyo, Japan, with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and advised on oil and gas matters involving North and South America. Since January 2016, Nuño has served on the board of directors and Finance Committee (currently, as Treasurer) of Children at Risk, a Texas non-partisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the root causes of poor public policies affecting children in the areas of health and nutrition, early childhood education, parenting, human trafficking, and immigration. Nuño holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and political science from Vanderbilt University and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law.
Lindsay Thomason
Founder & CEO, The Nanny League
Lindsay Thomason is the Founder and CEO of The Nanny League. She is an entrepreneur, advocate against child sexual abuse, and proud wife and mother. She graduated cum laude from Syracuse University’s prestigious SI Newhouse School of Communications in 2004 and went on to work in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. She left her career to pursue her passion for working with children, becoming a full-time professional nanny, and after seeing the need for quality childcare firsthand, Thomason started The Nanny League in 2010. Today, The Nanny League services affluent households, busy professionals, celebrities, and influencers worldwide.
Thomason, along with her trusted female-led team, has built a database of over 30K professional, college-educated nannies, household managers, personal assistants, newborn care specialists, and private educators and has matched thousands of families throughout the United States and overseas. She has been featured in various press and has developed strong relationships with national and local brands, such as Belly Bandit, mom.com, Fashion Mamas, and more. Thomason was nominated for LA Business Journal’s 2017 Women’s Summit CEO of the Year and an “Austin Under 40” Award in 2021. The Nanny League was selected as the Childcare Agency Winner for the ‘2022 Best of Beverly Hills Awards.’
Thomason serves as an Associate for Stop the Silence® and has played an integral part in the development of an online training program to educate nannies about child sexual abuse prevention and mitigation. The Nanny League is the first-ever nanny agency to mandate this training for its members. The Nanny League is also partnered with Erin’s Law and the Erin Levitas Foundation, where she serves on the Advisory Board.
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Deepa Poduval
SVP & Global Advisory Leader, Black & Veatch
Deepa Poduval is a Senior Vice President and Global Advisory Leader within Black & Veatch, an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in energy, water, telecommunications, and government services.
In this role, Poduval provides executive leadership for Black & Veatch’s Strategic and Digital Advisory Services, including support for a wide variety of clients related to transactions due diligence, regulations, business strategy and planning, asset and risk management, operational technologies, and infrastructure modernization. Their clients span governments, energy, water, commercial, industrial, and financial sectors and seek strategic and technical expertise related to their critical infrastructure as they pursue goals around sustainability, growth, and resilience.
Deepa is also Black & Veatch's Sustainability Leader and is the executive sponsor for WAVE, the women's employee resource group at Black & Veatch. She earned degrees from Birla Institute of Technology and Science and Dartmouth College.
Jessica Jackson
VP, Environment, Health and Safety, Apache
Jessica Jackson is the Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety at Apache Corporation. As a leading, global exploration and production company, Apache helps to meet the world’s energy needs in a cleaner, more sustainable way. In her role, Jackson oversees environment, health, safety, regulatory, and sustainability activities for the company. Her experience in both the public and private sectors has enabled her to have a positive and lasting impact on the energy sector. She’s known for her “field-focused” mindset and continuously improving safety, environmental management, regulatory, ESG, and sustainability performance while inspiring integrity across the organization.
Jackson began her career in local government, where she held various crisis management roles supporting the Texas Gulf Coast area and the City of Houston. Before transitioning to the energy sector, Jackson served as a multi-industry consultant, where she helped prepare organizations for large-scale emergencies. Prior to joining Apache, she held several positions of increasing responsibility at Murphy Oil Corporation.
Jackson holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and an undergraduate degree in public policy and political science from the University of Houston. Jackson was named by the Houston Business Journal as a Houston Top 40 Under 40 recipient for leadership, overcoming oil and gas industry challenges, and community involvement, and recently has been recognized as the top 100 diverse leaders in energy by the National Diversity Council. She's a passionate driver of pragmatic business with a proven track record leading high-performance teams.
Kara Dias
Partner, ERM
Kara Dias is a Partner with Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the largest global pure-play sustainability consultancy. She concentrates her practice in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and ESG Advisory, with a particular focus on financial clients and the energy transition sector. Prior to her dedicated focus in M&A, she led environmental investigation and remediation projects, implemented program-level compliance projects, and stewarded projects focused on waste reduction and water management to meet sustainability goals with operational cost savings.
Kara has successfully worked with global financial institutions and corporate clients ahead of multi-million to billion-dollar acquisitions and divestments. Clients value her hard work, diligence, patience, and resolve, and are impressed with her base of knowledge and the practical view she brings to each transaction and strategic project. She further supports clients post-close through ESG advisory projects, develops integration strategies to leverage value creation opportunities, and addresses gaps identified in transaction due diligence and/or reporting readiness. She prides herself on architecting solutions for her clients, bringing together all parts of ERM to identify and manage risks, activate the best ideas, and build strategies for her clients.
Kara serves as a leader within the Climate, Sustainability, and Transactions Business Unit and manages a direct team of 12 consultants across North America. She is passionate about creating a path for others to find their technical interest and thrive in their careers, thereby helping to build the next generation of leaders.
She holds a BS from the University of Texas, Austin, and an MS from SUNY, Stony Brook University. While progressing her career full-time, she recently completed Sustainable Finance and Investing coursework through Yale and obtained a CFA in Climate Finance.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kara is dedicated to empowering women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through volunteering as a judge for the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston, speaking at local schools, and volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Her commitment to making a positive impact extends to her community through being a member of the Houston Citizen’s Environmental Coalition and the Renewable Energy Alliance Houston (REAL Houston).
Elsy Ocejo
VP Supply Chain, Illes Seasonings & Flavors
Elsy Ocejo is the VP of Supply Chain for Illes Seasonings & Flavors, the first person to cover the role in the company’s history. Ocejo develops and strengthens the company’s customer-oriented supply chain while coordinating all supply chain initiatives with sales and marketing, FSQA, operations, and product development. She leads the planning, implementation, and integration of supply chain processes, fostering a continuous improvement culture. She is responsible for procurement, project management, production scheduling, and customer experience teams.
Ocejo is a distinguished veteran of supply chain management, both in and outside of the food industry, with two decades of experience. She comes to ILLES Foods after most recently serving as a director of supply chain strategy at Bimbo Bakeries USA, part of Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest bakery. During her seven years at Bimbo Bakeries, Ocejo was instrumental in the successful execution of transformation projects and was responsible for managing a team focused on delivering operational excellence and process improvements across end-to-end global supply chain operations. Prior to Bimbo Bakeries, Ocejo held numerous logistics roles of increasing responsibility across different manufacturing industries.
Ocejo earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business with a minor in International Logistics at the Tec de Monterrey and an MBA at Northwestern-Kellogg School of Management. Currently, she is President of the Kellogg Alumni Club of Houston, Founder of Kellogg for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group, and part of the Business Advisory Council for Northwestern’s University Transportation Group. She was also selected to Diversity MBA’s eleventh annual list of Top 100 under 50 Diverse Emerging Leaders for 2017.
Kris Cobb
SVP - Investment Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors
Kris Cobb began her wealth management career in 1998 with Prudential Securities. She has been with Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessor firms for the last 25 years. In order to work more holistically with her clients, Cobb passed her CFP® exam in 2004 after graduating from Rice University’s School of Continuing Studies CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Education Program. She then sought out and achieved the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation that same year.
Prior to becoming an investment Advisor, Cobb was an Executive Director with BeautiControl Cosmetics. She was named the “Woman of Excellence 1998” by the American Business Women’s Association, and as a result, the mayor of Stafford, Texas, named April 2, 1999, Kris Cobb Day in her honor. When she and her children lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Cobb was honored as the Small Business Person of the Year in 1991 by the St. Peters, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce. The St. Peters Jaycees named her the Young Business Person of the Year in 1992. Most recently, in 2019, Cobb was honored by Wells Fargo Advisors as a Premier Advisor of the Year.
Cobb has a BS in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and continues to be very active with Aggie alumni. She has four boys and lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with the one son still at home and her four-legged children – two cats and a dog.
Jamie Safier
Managing Director Capital Markets, Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation
Jamie Safier is the Managing Director of Capital Markets at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC). As the capital markets arm of the largest real estate brokerage firm in the US, MMCC provides financing for every product type with expertise across all major markets.
With over thirteen years of finance experience, Safier provides commercial real estate capital markets financing solutions for her clients. Her primary focus is the multifamily space, but she also boasts extensive experience sourcing debt and equity on all product types. Over the course of her career, she has closed more than $1 billion in capital, including over $200,000,000 in 2022. At MMCC, she consistently ranks as a top producer nationally establishing prosperous, enduring relationships with multiple lenders and property owners across the country. As a senior member of her team, she continuously mentors talent from new graduates into originators. She coaches young professionals in the financing business and guides them on deals until they’re ready to take the lead.
Before entering the commercial real estate industry, Safier was an investment banking analyst, focusing on bank and thrift sales and analysis. She is a member of The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and an active volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Safier received an undergraduate degree with a concentration in finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Cydonii Fairfax
EVP & General Counsel, Metropolitan Transit Authority
Cydonii Fairfax is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. She first joined the organization in 2017. In 1978, Houston-area voters created METRO and approved a one-cent sales tax to support its operations. METRO opened for business in January 1979. The Authority has transformed a broken bus fleet into a regional multimodal transportation system.
Fairfax is an effective, business-oriented legal executive with 20 years of broad legal experience, both in-house and in private practice, advising public and private company boards of directors and senior management on various legal matters, including corporate and securities law, finance, strategic planning, risk management, governance, and regulatory compliance. She has also worked extensively with stakeholders on structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex corporate finance and commercial transactions.
Fairfax earned a JD from Harvard Law School and an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Maryland.
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Anne Neeson
EVP & CEO, Memorial Hermann Foundation
Anne Neeson is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Foundation, a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. A native Houstonian, Neeson has enjoyed a 30-year career at United Way of Greater Houston, working her way up from a campaign associate to become the organization’s VP of donor relations. During the journey, Neeson realized a notably distinguished record as a development executive raising more than $1.5 billion, while creating or co-creating innovative donor groups that expanded and advanced the United Way’s fundraising initiatives.
Neeson has many accomplishments she’s proud of. She led the fourth-largest annual United Way campaign in the nation. She built the largest Alexis de Tocqueville Society membership in the nation and directed the capital campaign to build the United Way Center for Philanthropy Leadership & Volunteerism. Neeson co-created the United Way LINC, a Millennial-focused initiative volunteer group. She launched the United Way Women’s Initiative and also created the United Way Community Bus Tours to showcase the organization’s community work in key areas and give donors, potential donors, business leaders, and community leaders an up-close view of United Way programs in action.
Neeson holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University. She’s a member of the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has been cited as one of the city’s 50 Most Influential Women by Houston Women’s Magazine, selected as a Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women, and is currently a fellow in the American Leadership Forum Class XXXVII. She is also an Eucharistic Minister at All Saints Catholic Church.
Chelsea Hendrickson
Assurance Partner, PwC
Chelsea Hendrickson is an Assurance Partner with PwC, a network of firms in 152 countries with over 327,000 people who are committed to delivering quality assurance, advisory, and tax services.
Hendrickson has over 29 years of public accounting experience serving public and private companies, including global and US-based companies. Throughout her career, Hendrickson has provided a full range of assurance services. Her background includes a diverse range of experiences with early-stage, pre-public companies to public multinational corporations, and she has deep knowledge of SEC accounting and reporting requirements. Hendrickson has led foreign office reporting and consultations on technical accounting and SEC matters, including comment letters and pre-clearance of critical accounting issues. She has been involved in implementing and applying technical accounting standards and has experience with both IFRS and US GAAP. She has also assisted companies with capital transactions, such as initial public offerings, business combinations, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, and other financing assistance. Hendrickson has served clients in various industries, including energy, services, and technology.
Hendrickson received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in accounting, marketing, and management from Oklahoma State University and an MBA with a concentration in taxation from the University of Houston. She volunteers her time on a number of boards and sits on the Advisory Board for the Business School at the University of Houston. Hendrickson is married to a fellow PwC Partner and is the mother to three children, who are all pursuing careers in business.
Claudia Eguez Buchanan
VP Operations, Aztec Facility Services
Claudia Eguez Buchanan is the Vice President of Operations at Tier One Aztec Property Services. In this capacity, she is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations. Buchanan oversees the service and delivery of all Tier One Aztec national account contracts, including general oversight and management of all service teams, client engagements, and partnerships. She is a performance-results-driven management executive with over 20 years in the facility services industry experience in operations, process optimization, and customer experience.
Before joining Tier One Aztec, Buchanan held various leadership roles that have helped her define her position as VP of Operations. Her leadership style is inclusive, leading by example, mentoring, and coaching. She has a demonstrated track record of driving cost efficiencies, quality improvement, and shifting culture to rally around customer satisfaction. Buchanan uses her broad expertise to help professionals in her organization to grow into new opportunities and perform with excellence by empowering, engaging, and encouraging them.
Buchanan is passionate about cultivating a culture that creates an exceptional experience for clients and employees. She believes adhering to core values like transparency, excellence, inclusion, innovation, safety, and willingness to go the extra mile are the keys to building successful, long-term relationships. Buchanan graduated from the Universidad Privada of Santa Cruz in Bolivia and holds an undergraduate degree in auditing and finance.
Holly Clapham Rosenow
CMO, Houston First Corporation
Holly Clapham-Rosenow is the Chief Marketing Officer of Houston First, where she leads the strategic direction for marketing and advertising for the company. Houston First Corporation focuses on offering information on Houston tourism and travel places besides managing properties and buildings. Since assuming the role in 2003, Clapham-Rosenow has led the brand position for Houston, and under her leadership, the marketing team has received over 80 awards
Clapham-Rosenow is a member of the American Marketing Association and sits on the Theater District Association board. She served on the 2004 Super Bowl Marketing Committee, the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four Executive Team, and the 2017 Super Bowl Marketing Committee and is the Marketing Chair for the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four. She was inducted into the Houston Business Journal's "40 Under 40" class of 2013 and "Women Who Mean Business" in 2019.
Clapham-Rosenow graduated with a degree in radio, television, and film from the Dan Rather School of Communications at Sam Houston State University.
Kerri Quinn
VP, Arroyo Investors
Kerri Quinn is a Vice President at Arroyo Investors, an independent private equity fund manager with an investment focus on infrastructure projects throughout the Americas.
Quinn joined Arroyo in 2017 and has over six years of experience in the private equity and power and energy infrastructure industries. As VP, she is responsible for managing Arroyo’s investor relations and fundraising efforts. She previously served the company as the officer manager and then the director of external relations.
Prior to Arroyo, Quinn worked in private banking and commercial lending at Woodforest National Bank, where she served as relationship manager and actively managed a loan portfolio consisting of real estate and land development financing. Quinn has nearly 15 years of experience, including administrative and managerial positions. She earned an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Houston.
Din Chaney
VP of Talent Sourcing, Diverse Recruiting Experts
Din Chaney has spent the last two years as Vice President of Talent Sourcing for Diverse Recruiting Experts, a company dedicated to making meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion by partnering and assisting with their clients’ talent acquisition initiatives.
Under Chaney’s leadership with her “make it happen” and collaborative approach, she established processes and revamped the sourcing function driving the growth of the company. In Q4 of 2022, Diverse Recruiting Experts was acquired by HireBetter, a leader in talent recruiting and executive sourcing for entrepreneurial and growth-minded companies. With over 18 years of professional experience and successful stints at Morgan Stanley, American Express, and ExpressJet, Chaney will now lead the as-a-service Recruiting Division at HireBetter.
Chaney holds an undergraduate degree in communication from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. Additionally, she is diversity sourcing certified and a certified IBM Data Science Specialist.
Sarah Sims
Executive Director of Donor Engagement, University of Houston
With more than 20 years of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, program development, and leadership, Sims has been committed to developing strategic teams that inspire philanthropy at higher education and nonprofit organizations across the country. She currently serves as an Executive Director of Donor Engagement for the University of Houston. The Division of University Advancement serves the University of Houston by creating awareness and building and strengthening relationships with diverse constituencies that encourage and generate philanthropic investment in support of the University. Sims currently oversees multiple teams within UH Advancement that are dedicated to creating impactful donor giving experiences at all levels.
Known for being a “builder”, Sims has won multiple industry awards for new and innovative programs under her purview. Serving also as an industry consultant, she is a trainer, public speaker, and strategist for clients from Maine to California. Sims earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Florida and holds the CFRE Certification.
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Elena Ippolitova
Managing Director, Kroll
Elena Ippolitova is a Managing Director of Kroll, the world’s premier provider of services and digital products related to governance, risk, and transparency. Ippolitova brings over 15 years of experience in investments, corporate finance, operations, and strategy, and she specializes in advising public and private companies, corporate boards, special committees, financial sponsors, lenders, and creditor committees across the energy sector.
Prior to joining Kroll, Ippolitova served as managing director at Conway MacKenzie, where she specialized in developing and executing financial, operational, and strategic solutions for lenders, equity sponsors, and companies in distressed and special situations across the entire energy sector. Before that, Ippolitova served as an energy investment officer at Jefferies Financial Group Inc, formerly Leucadia National Corporation, leading private equity and special situations investments in upstream and energy infrastructure and participating in multiple Chapter 11 oil and gas asset auction processes. Ippolitova also held senior positions at APA Corporation, formerly Apache Corporation, and EIG Global Energy Partners, formerly TCW Asset Management Company.
Ippolitova received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a CFA Charterholder, a member of the University of Texas McCombs Energy Initiative (MEI) Advisory Council, and a co-chair of the MEI Midstream Subcommittee.
Akrit Kaur
Managing Director, Accenture
Akrit Kaur is a Managing Director in the Accenture Data and AI strategy practice. During her 20-year career, Akrit has helped her clients develop AI strategies, shape and deliver large-scale business transformations, and design and build multiple scaled Data and AI solutions and products helping clients solve complex problems while reinventing their businesses.
Akrit specializes in strategic consulting, improving processes, digital strategy, and using data and analytics to drive innovation and efficiency. Her work in modernizing traditional business models with the latest AI technologies, focusing on data-driven decision-making and strategic planning, has helped her clients achieve sustainable growth. Her clients and co-workers appreciate her ability to be detail-oriented while maintaining a focus on long-term strategy and business value. She is passionate about gender equality and actively participates in Accenture’s Women in Data and AI as a mentor and strives to be a part of a world, where each and everyone (regardless of their gender, caste, color, or race) is treated equally.
Akrit has a Computer Science engineering degree from Kurukshetra University, India, and an MBA from Rice University in Houston, TX. She has always taken pride in being able to connect technology to business problems from when she was a programmer using .Net and SQL server technologies to crafting Generative AI strategies for clients.
Nicole Ledet
Director of Human Resources/Chief Human Resource Officer, Fort Bend County
Nicole Ledet is an accomplished human resource thought leader with over twenty years of progressively senior-level management experience in both public and private sector organizations. Ledet has managed policy, compliance, and compensation for teams of 6,000-plus full-time employees as a leader with FBISD, Stewart Title, Headway Workforce Solutions, and Fort Bend County.
Ledet has collaborated with leadership to drive the strategic vision and to foster a culture of accountability and trust. She is a multi-faceted leader who uses innovative ideas for employee engagement initiatives, including employee development, pay equity, and diversity and inclusion. Her expertise led her to facilitate a variety of human resource functions, including compensation, training and development, talent acquisition, employee relations, leave administration, compliance, and risk mitigation.
Ledet received her undergraduate degree in political science from Hampton University and a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Education from George Washington University. She holds professional certifications in human resources from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). As a resident of Fort Bend County, Ledet is committed to serving the community and providing efficient and effective human resource services to its employees.
Misti Jeter
President & Co-Founder, BlackPearl Technology
As Co-Founder and President of seven BlackPearl companies, Misti Jeter brings over 20 years of cross-disciplinary leadership spanning science, engineering, and strategic business development. After pursuing her master’s in engineering management along with her BS in Chemistry, Misti has spearheaded initiatives to drive efficiency, sustainability, and growth across manufacturing, oil and gas, renewables, and other technical sectors. Misti’s innate drive for innovation led her to pioneering achievements including patented multiple-effect water distillation systems and other technology capable of withstanding extreme subsurface environments.
As President of BlackPearl, Misti steers continuous growth by motivating top-tier talent united behind a shared vision of bringing pioneering technologies to market. Misti was recently appointed to the Industrial Advisory Board for Sam Houston State University’s School of Engineering as well as the Houston District Export Council, allowing Misti to guide the next generation of engineers while helping local businesses expand globally. Widely recognized as a forward-focused leader, Misti couples her impressive industry accomplishments with community service efforts. She currently sits on the Executive Board of the American Heart Association’s Gulf Coast Region chapter where she champions her message for education on the topic of cancer and heart health.
After being elected to the Board of C2MI in 2023, Misti has been empowered to advance collaboration globally between academia, government, and the private sector. With over two decades driving cross-industry innovation forward, she has firmly solidified her position as an influential leader shaping Houston’s landscape for years to come.
Amy Waterman
Director, Patient Engagement, Disparities & Research, Houston Methodist
Amy Waterman is the Director of Patient Engagement, Disparities, and Research for Houston Methodist. She is a national transplant innovator and the Deborah C. and Clifton B. Phillips Centennial Chair for Clinical Research in Transplant Medicine, a full professor, and the Director of Patient Engagement, Diversity, and Education, representing both J.C. Walter Transplant Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Houston Methodist Research Institute.
As a health services researcher and social psychologist, Waterman conducts research in multiple areas, including how best to expand access to optimal treatments, reduce racial disparities, ensure informed decision-making, ensure patient-centered care, and improve health outcomes. She has published over 125 journal articles, encompassing many components of clinical and translational research, including patient-oriented research, clinical trials, behavioral and multilevel interventional studies, development of new educational technologies, outcomes and health services research, and implementation of best practices. She has designed and tested the efficacy of a suite of innovative educational resources, including mobile decision aid applications, a digital storytelling application, and texting interventions about living donation.
She has been the principal investigator on over 10 grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Her award-winning educational resources have been translated into multiple languages and delivered to patients in thousands of clinical settings in the United States, Canada, and online. Her research has been supported by almost $30 million in grants, and in 2019, she received the American Society of Transplantation Clinician of Distinction Award for national influence in transplantation by a non-physician. Prior to joining the faculty at Houston Methodist Research Institute, she was a faculty member at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine in Nephrology and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in General Medical Sciences. Fundamentally, she is a patient advocate.
Priya Aswani
Director, Architecture & Strategy, Microsoft
Priya Aswani is the Director of Architecture and Strategy at Microsoft, where she leads a team of engineers towards confidential computing standards in sovereign and clandestine clouds. Priya led an engineering team at Microsoft focused on building a platform that transforms critical decision-making for government and commercial industries through multi-domain simulation and analysis. She and her team were responsible for enabling the analytics and geospatial information systems to map the world at scale on the cloud as well as reinforcement learning to determine in simulation and post-simulation analysis and recommended actions. This work was awarded a congressional contract worth $90M among other efforts in Aeronautics and Space, indicative of the real digital transformation this solution enabled.
Most recently, Priya has been working on the latest Generative AI technology releasing new copilots across the fields of science and commerce at Microsoft.
Aswani is a motivated self-starter and proven cloud leader with 15 years of experience in engineering and machine learning. She has over four years of direct people management experience and 10 years in leadership roles. Before her current role, Aswani served Microsoft through leadership roles in data, AI, cloud solutions, IoT, advanced modeling, and simulation.
Aswani graduated from Sacred Heart University with a Master’s degree in Computer Science and from Western Connecticut State University with an undergraduate degree in international political economy and finance.
Tiffany Hughey
Virtual CFO & Principal Managing Partner, HCFO Group
Tiffany Hughey is the Virtual CFO & Principal Managing Partner of HCFO Group. HCFO provides outsourced CFO services at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO to organizations with annual revenues of $3 million to $15 million. Hughey has 20 years of extensive experience providing CEOs with invaluable insight. She brings a unique perspective as a CPA and CFO because of her diverse, first-hand executive management experience. She has led businesses that ranged in revenue sizes from $1 million to $35 million and teams of 6 to over 200 people.
Prior to founding HCFO Group, Hughey was a JPMorgan Wall Street investment banker, private wealth manager, and general manager of Target Corporation. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Texas and a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs. She serves on the Grant Committee of the Melton Global Foundation.
Hughey earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a finance degree from Dillard University.
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Lindsay Massengill
Managing Director, Accenture
Lindsay Massengill is a Managing Director at Accenture, specializing in supply chain management, procurement, and business process services. With nearly 20 years of experience, she serves as an account leader for select energy clients, where she partners with client leadership to identify and achieve transformational goals.
With her prior experience working in a variety of roles for BP, she brings a deep working knowledge of the oil and gas industry with a key focus on driving business impact. She is known for her collaborative, values-based leadership style, bringing diverse global teams together to drive connected value from strategy through execution. Passionate about the industry, Massengill brings curiosity and collaboration to her teams and is an early adopter of new trends in technology, such as generative AI.
As the co-lead of Accenture’s Houston mental wellness employee resource group and a mental health ally at Accenture, she advocates for mental wellness at work, in the community, and at home. Most recently, she launched an Accenture podcast, The MindHub, where she is joined by co-hosts to tackle a variety of mental health topics and practices. Massengill has her MBA from Arizona State University and an undergraduate degree with a dual specialization in supply chain management and operations management from Bowling Green State University. She is a proud mom to two kids, enjoys hiking with her husband, and loves to make jewelry in her free time.
Tania Daniel
Vice President of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas
Tania Daniel is the Vice President of Entrepreneurship Initiatives for Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, and manages the JA Company Program, one of the largest entrepreneurship education programs in the world. Under her leadership the JA Company Program and related special events have witnessed record growth and celebrated partnerships in Houston. She previously served as District Director for JA's largest territories, Fort Bend and outlying areas, setting new records for expansion and outreach. Prior to joining JA, Tania worked in the areas of human rights advocacy, nation-building, peace and reconciliation. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of London, specializing in Human Rights Law.
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tania reflects that the brief time spent in the Northern war zones as a research intern, while a student at the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka) was a life-changing experience and ignited her passion for the Right to Education, as well as Minority Rights. Witnessing elementary school children attempting to study amidst the rubble of their bombed and shelled schools made her vow to do better. She is also passionate about supporting teen business leaders in her community and abides by the mission that she defined for the JA Company Program: Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a great equalizer in our world and Tania enjoys coaching high school and middle school students to establish, launch and operate their early-stage startups. She believes that the JA Company Program is helping create the next generation of pioneering American entrepreneurs. Fueled by the power of potent community and corporate partnerships, Tania believes that the JA Company Program and entrepreneurship and workforce readiness education can passionately support our ecosystem.
Tania has been celebrated by the Houston Business Journal as an Honoree of the 40 Under 40 Awards (2021) and the Women Who Mean Business Awards (2022) and was recently recognized as an Outstanding Diversity Champion 2023 (Diversity in Business Awards) by them. In her spare time, she loves going for long hikes with her rescue dogs, watching documentaries on World War II and ancient civilizations, and learning about other cultures through travel.
Misha McClure
Director of External Affairs, Comcast
Misha McClure leads the Comcast Houston region’s digital equity and community impact programs as the Director of External Affairs. In this role, she partners with community organizations to help advance Comcast Houston’s position as a digital equity leader through legacy programs that provide important resources residents and business owners need to be successful in a digital world. In 2021, Comcast invested more than $3.5 million in Houston-area community organizations and local digital equity programs.
McClure is a proven public relations and community affairs leader with more than 15 years of experience. She joined Comcast nearly nine years ago. In her previous role as external communications manager, she created compelling and engaging content for a wide variety of audiences, including amplifying digital equity and community impact efforts through traditional, influencer, and social media. Internally, McClure launched the Houston region’s MyAbilities Employee Resource Group and completed numerous leadership development courses.
McClure received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She serves on the Board for Easter Seals of Greater Houston. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America – Houston chapter and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Cynthia Hubbard
Managing Director, Strategy & Transactions, Deal Technology, EY-Parthenon
Cynthia Hubbard is a Managing Director within EY-Parthenon’s Transaction Strategy and Execution practice, focusing on the technology aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and separations. EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people, and society and build trust in the capital markets.
Hubbard has over 25 years of experience in leading corporate and private equity clients through complex technology transformations across the transaction lifecycle, primarily in the energy industry. Prior to joining EY-P, Hubbard held technology operating roles in an oil-field services private-equity-backed portfolio company and a Fortune 500 global chemical manufacturer. In these roles, Hubbard held accountability for due diligence, post-merger integration, management of technical investments, and leadership of mission-critical systems and programs. Prior to her industry roles, Hubbard held senior consulting roles with Alvarez & Marsal and PwC, focused on technology strategy and transformation.
Hubbard graduated from Texas McCombs School of Business with an MBA and from Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business with an undergraduate degree in finance.
Rebecca Mansfield
Director of Client Relations, Cadence McShane Construction Company
As Director of Client Relations for Cadence McShane Construction, Rebecca Mansfield develops new business opportunities within the commercial, industrial, and senior living market sectors for Cadence McShane’s Houston region. Founded in 1985, Cadence McShane Construction Company (CMC) has grown to become one of the most trusted and well-established contractors in the State of Texas.
Mansfield has been in the construction industry since 2003 and provides significant insight regarding statewide clients with national end-users. Before joining Cadence McShane Construction Company, Mansfield was a director of client relations at Catamount Constructors. Before that, she was a director of marketing at Jamail & Smith Construction. Earlier in her career, she worked with The Parker Group as a project trafficker and production manager.
Mansfield attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she received a bachelor of arts in communications and English. She also worked on her master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin in communications with a concentration in rhetoric.
Sydney Dao
Director of Brand Integration, Houston First
Sydney, an accomplished publicist and marketing executive, has made an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Known for catapulting Houston-based designer and Project Runway, Season 2 winner, Chloe Dao into the international spotlight, Sydney's career is a testament to her unwavering dedication and multifaceted expertise.
Her journey began in New York City, where she represented renowned designers such as Monique Lhuillier, Stephen Dweck, and Ralph Rucci at Michael Atchison & Associates and Randall Rutledge Public Relations. Simultaneously juggling roles as a sales representative and PR executive, Sydney seamlessly managed both partner companies, showcasing her prowess in the intricate web of the fashion world.
With over 25 years of hands-on experience, Sydney's involvement in the industry spans wholesale to retail, design to runway, and tradeshows to fashion shows. This rich tapestry of experiences laid the foundation for her to establish Squid Inc, a public relations firm.
Her entrepreneurial spirit and keen eye for talent caught the attention of the Houston First Corporation, Houston’s official destination marketing organization, leading to the commissioning of LAUNCH. After a successful six-year tenure as the Director of Retail, Sydney has redirected her expertise toward marketing as the Director of Brand Integration at Houston First. In her current capacity, Sydney spearheads Brand Integration, showcasing her adeptness at aligning marketing strategies with the overall brand vision.
Sydney is a true advocate for community engagement and giving back. Her dedication to making a positive impact is exemplified by her leadership roles in various organizations. Sydney serves as the Chairwoman of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, where her strategic vision and commitment drive initiatives that benefit the Asian business community. As Chair-elect at the Asian Chamber Foundation, she actively contributes to its mission of fostering education and empowerment within the Asian community. Sydney supports the art and fashion community by serving as a Board Member of the Art Colony Association and a long-term member of the Advisory Panel of the Fashion Department at Houston Community College. Her guidance and insights contribute significantly to shaping the future of aspiring fashion professionals.
Sydney not only excels in her corporate endeavors but also dedicates herself to numerous community and educational initiatives. Her multifaceted contributions showcase a deep commitment to the well-being and growth of the communities she serves. Sydney's impact extends far beyond the boardroom, leaving a lasting impression on the diverse and interconnected fabric of Houston.
Brittney White
Director of Build to Rent, Mynd
Brittney White is the Director of Build to Rent for Mynd Management, where she oversees the lease-up and operations of national BTR portfolios. Mynd is a tech-enabled real estate company serving the over $85 billion property management and real estate investment market.
While she has more than 21 years of various real estate experience, White has narrowed her focus to both commercial and residential property management for the past more than 14 years. White has specialized in the management of challenging assets and has successfully navigated numerous takeovers, sales, due diligence, refinancing, renovations, structural rehabs, lease-ups, acquisitions, new construction, and even pre-development phases. White's use of performance-driven business strategies, coupled with her comprehensive industry knowledge, has resulted in recognition as Residential Project of the Year by Engineering News Records, Best Multi-Family Project Award Finalist by Houston Business Journal, Top 40 Under 40 Nominee by Houston Business Journal, Leading Ladies Awardee, Leadership Award in Historical Preservation, and Rookie of the Year Awardee.
White demonstrates a passion for professional and community leadership as an active member of charitable and nonprofit organization initiatives. She sits on the board of directors for Texas Center for the Missing, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and healing to the missing and their families, in addition to the management of statewide Silver & Amber Alerts. White is also a member of Houston CREMM, a nonprofit focused on professional women in the commercial real estate industry, and was a volunteer as a Child’s Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast for many years. She strives to set the standard as an industry-leading expert within the rapidly growing Build to Rent asset class.
Julia Amponsah-Gilder
Director 2 of Student Assessment, Houston ISD
Julia Amponsah-Gilder stands as a beacon of educational excellence, weaving a narrative of passion and expertise in her illustrious 23-year career. She started on her journey as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Julia's trajectory has been marked by a series of extraordinary leadership milestones that have left an indelible mark on the landscape of education.
Currently holding the pivotal role of Director 2 of Assessment and serving as the District Test Coordinator (DTC) for the Houston Independent School District (HISD), Julia operates at the nexus of educational leadership and policy, acting as a vital liaison between the district and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). In this capacity, she navigates the intricate web of assessments, curriculum impact, and test security, contributing to the dynamic educational landscape of the largest school district in Texas.
Beyond her administrative prowess, Julia's influence resonates on a national scale. Collaborating with the Council of Greater City Schools (CGCS), she champions the cause of urban schools and advocates for inner-city students through impactful avenues such as legislation, research, and media relations. Her efforts extend beyond the confines of her district, reflecting a commitment to shaping the broader discourse on educational policies that impact students in urban settings.
Julia's ascent to leadership has not gone unnoticed. Former HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier has personally acknowledged her transformative impact on the Student Assessment Department, commending her dedication to excellence since assuming the role of DTC in 2013. Her visionary leadership has not only left an enduring legacy within HISD but has become a model for educational transformation and innovation.
Academically, Julia is a trailblazer. Armed with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, she continues to pursue a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Lamar University, showcasing an unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth.
In Julia Amponsah-Gilder's story, readers discover not only a seasoned educator and leader but also a trailblazer shaping the future of education. Her narrative is one of passion, expertise, and a relentless dedication to creating a transformative impact in students' lives, making her a captivating and inspirational figure in the realm of education.
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