Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Philadelphia for 2024. Philadelphia, renowned for its historic Liberty Bell, the iconic Rocky Steps, and the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art, offers more than just a rich cultural heritage. It stands as one of the largest and most dynamic markets in the United States, characterized by a low cost of living and a thriving array of industries. Top sectors in the City of Brotherly Love include financial services, life sciences, technology, manufacturing, health, and hospitality.
Among the leaders in these sectors is biopharmaceuticals executive Deirdre Diener. With 26 years of US and global commercial leadership experience, Diener is the Senior Director of Digital Transformation, Omnichannel, Data and Platform Operations, and Innovation at Janssen, a pharmaceutical company that is part of Johnson & Johnson.
Leading the way in the manufacturing sector is Karen Norheim, the President and CEO of the American Crane and Equipment Corporation (ACECO), the leading manufacturer providing cranes and material handling equipment for nuclear applications. Norheim oversees company operations and maintains a strong leadership team while driving innovation.
Finally, we recognize the accomplishments of healthcare leader Joni Rittler, the Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Rittler provides vision and leadership for an integrated supply chain across the nation's first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Philadelphia for 2024.
1. Brigette McInnis-Day
Chief People Officer, UiPath
Brigette McInnis-Day is the Chief People Officer of UiPath, a global software company that makes robotic process automation (RPA) software. McInnis-Day believes in fostering a people-first philosophy that focuses on attracting and developing an exceptional team of innovative thinkers and shaping a culture of customer-centricity to drive business growth and transformation. She is an avid believer in reshaping the future of work through technology and automation as well as the need to redefine the next generation of leadership.
Over her 20 years working in HR, McInnis-Day has managed board-level HR strategies, repaired sub-performing initiatives, and consulted senior-level executives. She enjoys amplifying employee experiences, revamping compensation elements, and accelerated development. Her passion is leading large-scale global teams while building cultures that promote women and early talents in leadership, diversity, inclusion, pay equality, and digital transformation. By leading with motivation and transparency, it is her purpose to help individuals succeed through innovation. McInnis-Day’s passions include leading large-scale global teams and building cultures that promote women and early-stage talent in leadership, diversity and inclusion, pay equality, and digital transformation.
Before joining UiPath in 2022, McInnis-Day served as a leader of Google Cloud’s human resources function, shaping a culture of customer empathy, empowering leadership, and belonging. As the chief operating officer of SAP SuccessFactors, she defined and implemented business strategies to achieve sustainable growth and satisfaction among customers undergoing digital transformation of their total workforce experience. In addition to her role as COO, McInnis-Day also led SAP SuccessFactors Digital HR Strategy and Transformation teams. McInnis-Day graduated from the University of New Haven with an MA in Industrial Organization and Psychology and from Ithaca College with an undergraduate degree in psychology and business.
2. Marie Accardi
Global Client Partner, Senior Director, Life Sciences, LTIMindtree
Today, Marie Accardi is the Global Client Partner and Senior Director of Life Sciences at LTIMindtree. LTIMindtree is a new kind of technology consulting firm. They help businesses transform and thrive in the marketplace of the future.
Accardi is a strategic business advisor to the C-suite and key decision-makers within life science and healthcare. She has over 18 years of experience working with virtually all of the Fortune 100 pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech companies. Accardi started the first 13 years of her career in commercial sales for top life science companies, such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Quest Diagnostics, Cigna, Danaher, and J&J. After shifting her career to IT management consulting, Accardi is now a leader with experience running large global teams, managing P&L of $150 million, developing a strategic plan, deploying and executing sales models and GTM strategy.
Accardi has experience helping clients evaluate their strategic business operations, improve management and control, and identify cost-saving initiatives using digital-first solutions within marketing and commercial, manufacturing, research and development, supply chain, corporate and financial strategy, information technology, regulatory and compliance environment, and digital health. Accardi graduated from Rowan University with an undergraduate degree in business and corporate communications.
3. Christine Bonfiglio
Global Delivery Director, Cognizant
Christine Bonfiglio is the Global Delivery Director of Cognizant. Cognizant engineers modern businesses, helping clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in their fast-changing world.
Bonfiglio started at Cognizant in January 2020 as a senior project manager. After that, she accepted a role as a group manager at Avanade. In this role, she managed large, complex client projects and programs and provided client account and delivery oversight, building business partnerships. Collaborating with business development directors for new client opportunities, Bonfiglio oversaw the career advisor and mentorship program while managing project resources, timelines, and budgets. She returned to Cognizant in August 2022 as a senior manager and was promoted to the director level in June 2023.
Earlier in her career, Bonfiglio was a project manager at AmeriGas and then a supply chain project manager at DirectSat USA, a UniTek Company. Her last role before joining Cognizant was with Change Healthcare as a senior project manager.
4. Eileen Diskin
Chief Marketing Officer & SVP, Comcast Business
Eileen Diskin is the Chief Marketing Officer of Comcast Business, a global leader in business technology solutions and a significant contributor to Comcast Corporation’s growth. In this role, she leads a world-class, multi-faceted marketing practice focused on driving revenue and subscriber growth by strengthening the brand and expanding worldwide demand for Comcast Business’ technology solutions across all business segments and verticals.
Diskin, known as a “marketing powerhouse” is a dynamic, transformational B2C and B2B marketing veteran and leader with a proven track record of driving results and innovation through comprehensive strategies that translate to tactical, executable plans. She is passionate about leading and inspiring teams and has experience across several marketing disciplines including brand strategy, advertising, digital, product, analyst relations, and more.
Since joining Comcast Business in 2020, Diskin and her team have relaunched the global brand, established a new advertising and communications platform, Powering Possibilities; significantly increased overall brand awareness and consideration; and directly impacted revenue growth through demand generation and engagement programs. Diskin also launched Comcast Business Mobile – the brand’s fastest-growing product – and secured the largest sponsorship agreement in Comcast Business history with the PGA TOUR, including multi-year sponsorships with THE PLAYERS Tournament and the Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10.
Before joining Comcast Business, Diskin served as Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications & Strategy for Comcast, driving the Xfinity brand to #20 on the 2019 BrandZ Top 100 Global Brands ranking. Under her leadership, Comcast received hundreds of advertising awards, including Effies, Cannes Lions, Clios, and a Jay Chiat award. She also served as Vice President of Marketing at Comcast NBCUniversal-owned PBS KIDS Sprout. Prior to Diskin’s start at Comcast in 2002, she held management positions at The Walt Disney Company and E! Entertainment Television.
Diskin has been recognized with several industry accolades and distinctions throughout her career, including, as one of CableFax magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Cable” since 2016, Business Insider named her a Comcast “Power Player” in 2019 and Advertising Age recognized Diskin as a “Working Mother of the Year.”
Diskin holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Delaware and has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard Business School, the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She serves on the board of Squash Smarts, a Philadelphia-based non-profit academic and athletic mentoring program for public school students, and LifeLabs Learning, a national learning and development company. She resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and two daughters.
5. Tania Keenan
Executive Director, Head of Chase Sapphire Card Brand, Advertising, & Media, JPMorgan Chase
Tania Keenan is the Executive Director and Head of Chase Sapphire Card Brand, Advertising, and Media at JPMorgan Chase. She first joined the company in 2019 as executive director and head of freedom card advertising, media, content, and digital marketing. JPMorgan Chase is one of the world's oldest, largest, and best-known financial institutions.
Keenan is an experienced leader in product strategy, full-funnel marketing, branding, and building go-to-market plans. As a seasoned marketer, she focuses on harnessing data analytics and insights to drive business results. She is a results-oriented, creative, and strategic thinker, storyteller, and most importantly, a team leader and motivator. She can connect the dots to see the broader impact, and influence, and navigate large, matrixed organizations.
Previously, Keenan was a director of marketing at Capital One. Before that, she was an advertising and brand manager at ING. Earlier in her career, she worked with Delphic as an account director. Keenan earned an MBA in Marketing from Boston University and an undergraduate degree in business and managerial economics from Ursinus College.
6. Claudia Piccirilli
Senior Director, Global FINEX Data Science & Analytics, WTW
Claudia leads the Global FINEX AI, Data Science & Analytics group at WTW, where she designs and delivers analytical models to support internal and external clients. As the leader of FINEX AI solutions, she sets the strategic direction for applying AI to solve critical business challenges and create value. She also oversees the data engineering and management that enable the meaningful and efficient use of AI. Her vision drives the discovery of new insights from data that can be used for various purposes.
A passionate advocate for cultivating vibrant teams and company culture, Claudia excels at conveying complex technical concepts in accessible language, addressing user adoption hurdles, enhancing the end-user experience, and applying her expertise in planning and change management.
Claudia holds a doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Cyber Risk Quantification and has extensive experience in cybersecurity, product design, technology, operations, systems development, and consulting. She has worked as a senior corporate and management consultant for many Fortune 500 clients and is an active entrepreneur and investor.
7. Adriana Rubio
Managing Director, Accenture
Adriana Rubio is the Managing Director of Accenture. Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services, creating tangible value at speed and scale.
Rubio has 15 years of experience. Before joining Accenture, she was a vice president of strategic growth at Blue Acorn iCi. Before that, she was a director of channel partner relations at 6D Global Technologies, Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked with Universidad de Manizales as a market researcher. Rubio is currently a member of the board of directors for the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she is the chair of the Young Professional Network (YPN). She works closely with the leadership team and the YPN Advisory Board to redefine the vision and purpose of the network. She leads strategy and initiatives to increase the membership base, grow member engagement, strengthen sponsor relationships, and diversify the offerings that the program brings to the community.
Rubio graduated from the Universidad de Manizales with an undergraduate degree in international marketing. She also studied human resources management and services at Montgomery County Community College.
8. Deb Harding
Senior Director, Artificial Intelligence Sales, Americas, Microsoft
Deb Harding is the Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence Sales for the Americas at Microsoft, an American multinational corporation and technology company. Harding is responsible for leading and empowering a specialist sales and technical team of deep subject matter experts in artificial intelligence technologies within Microsoft Azure. Her team assists major enterprises in planning, building, implementing, and adopting advanced, secure, and responsible artificial intelligence capabilities. This includes machine learning, cognitive services, and knowledge-mining scenarios across both the cloud and edge environments.
Harding is an assertive and results-oriented sales and management professional with outstanding business development and account management skills. As a strong team player, she leverages relationships at all organizational levels, effectively communicates and negotiates, collaborates, and earns partner and customer loyalty. She is an energetic, disciplined self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive for results through a solution-selling approach.
Harding started her career in 1996 as an account executive at E-Plus. From there, she went on to Thomson NETg. Her most recent role before joining Microsoft in 2010 was working as a realtor at Prudential Fox & Roach. Harding graduated from St. Lawrence University with an undergraduate degree in French and political science.
9. Christina Arthur
Senior VP, Recovery & Fulfillment Reporting & Execution, Bank of America
Christina Arthur began her professional career 28 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Recovery and Fulfillment Reporting and Execution at Bank of America, one of the world's largest financial institutions. Arthur spent her early career at Bank of America in 1996, and by 2001, she had joined the C-suite in her first VP role. She accepted her current position in 2015.
A driven, capable, and collaborative business intelligence manager with over 25 years of overall experience in the financial services industry, Arthur has demonstrated the ability to manage multiple and changing priorities across the collections, recovery, and fulfillment divisions. She is skilled at turning data into meaningful insights to drive performance improvements through multiple forums, including presentations, papers, and data visualization.
Arthur graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in communication and journalism.
10. Tiffany Tavarez
Senior VP │ Diverse Segments, Representation & Inclusion, Wells Fargo
Tiffany Tavarez serves as Senior Vice President of Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion (DSRI) at Wells Fargo, an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. DSRI focuses on expanding diversity at all levels of the company, intentionally deepening commitment and connection to employees and diverse suppliers, and developing products and services for customer segments that are critical to the business.
Before joining DSRI, Tavarez was the senior vice president of community sponsorships and strategy at Wells Fargo Advisors and the vice president of community relations for the Wells Fargo Foundation. Her career in inclusive philanthropy, program development and strategy, and stakeholder engagement has included reputable organizations, such as Exelon, Comcast, Temple University, and the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Tavarez is currently serving as chair of the board of directors for Monument Lab; as a member of the board of directors for Esperanza; and as the commissioner for the Pennsylvania Commission for Women.
Tavarez graduated from the University of the Arts with an MA and from Temple University with an undergraduate degree. She is a first-generation college graduate.
11. Brenna Quinn
Senior VP, Product, Oracle
Brenna Quinn is the Senior Vice President of Products of Oracle, a cloud technology company that provides organizations around the world with computing infrastructure and software to help them innovate, unlock efficiencies, and become more effective. Quinn joined Oracle in 2022 via the Cerner acquisition, where she served as chief product officer. During her time with Cerner and Siemens, Quinn has held a number of key leadership roles that have allowed her to develop strong client-partner relationships and experience driving initiatives across all areas of internal operations.
Quinn brings more than 25 years of health information technology experience with Shared Medical Services and Siemens. Quinn drives the strategy, execution, and overall market success of their Core Health product portfolio, generating over 2B annually in product revenues. Quinn has executive general management over their product business units inclusive of planning upstream marketing and overall product and portfolio management functions with accountability for overall strategy, profitability, and successful market performance of their clinical, revenue cycle, consumer, and population health management product offerings. She has previously held executive leadership roles over clinical and revenue cycle solutions, as well as leadership roles in global marketing and professional services areas.
Quinn is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts. She has attended numerous executive management courses, including the European School of Management and Technology. She is a member of the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the American Congress of Health Care Executives (ACHE), and the Health Financial Management Association (HFMA). She is also on the board of directors for the Chester County Economic Development Council and Downingtown STEM Academy.
12. Kelsey Medaglia
Partner, EY
Kelsey Medaglia began her professional career 17 years ago. Today, she is the Partner of EY. EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people, and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform, and operate.
Medaglia is a dedicated leader in EY's Supply Chain Consulting practice with over 15 years of experience and cross-sector end-to-end digital procurement expertise. She leads large-scale procurement transformation programs and teams across functions with a focus on driving sustainable value to deliver strategic goals, streamlined operations, and cost reduction.
Medaglia graduated from Lehigh University College of Business with an MBA in Supply Chain Management and from Lehigh University with an undergraduate degree in computer science and business accounting.
13. Joni Rittler
VP & Chief Supply Chain Officer, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Joni Rittler is the Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She has worked in healthcare materials management for over 30 years and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management of Information Technology from Eastern University, as well as a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s University.
Throughout her career, Rittler has led many projects to implement new technology and improve supply chain operations. Before her role at CHOP, she served as the vice president of supply chain technology for Catholic Health Initiatives (now Common Spirit). Her many accomplishments include the re-design of business processes, development of shared service centers, optimization of group purchasing organization, logistics planning, and implementation of ERP, Financial or Supply Chain systems. In her current role, Rittler provides vision, strategy, and leadership for an integrated supply chain across the CHOP enterprise.
Rittler believes that building relationships is key to success in supply chain management (SCM). She has a passion for developing emerging talent to grow the next generation of SCM leaders. She serves as the executive sponsor for CHOP’s All Abilities Resource Group, an employee team working to raise awareness and provide education related to the employment of people with disabilities. Rittler was instrumental in the formation of the Pediatric Alliance, a newly formed aggregation group of pediatric hospitals, and serves as the chair for the executive steering committee for the Pediatric Alliance, as well as a member of the Joint Oversight Committee.
14. Kelli Brown
Audit Managing Director, KPMG
Kelli Brown is an Audit Managing Director at KPMG, one of the world’s leading professional services firms and the fastest-growing Big Four accounting firm in the US with over 75 offices and more than 40,000 employees and partners.
Brown serves on integrated and financial statement audits of public and private commercial banks, real estate companies, and financial service companies. She also provides accounting consulting services. She has experience in several technical accounting areas, including initial public offerings, debt and stock offerings, fair value measurement, purchase accounting, and allowance for loan loss methodology.
Brown is a core team member of the KPMG Network of Women (KNOW) and the co-chair of the Young KNOW Committee. She graduated from Penn State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
15. Ashley Anders
President, Organizational Effectiveness & Human Performance Consultant, Ashley Anders Consulting, LLC
Ashley Anders is the President of Ashley Anders Consulting, LLC, as well as an Organizational Effectiveness and Human Performance Consultant. She first joined the company in 2012. Ashley Anders Consulting focuses on building high-performing teams, improving employee engagement, creating learning strategies, customizing competency-specific cohort programs, and building and facilitating high-potential leadership programs.
Anders designs leadership development strategies that are tied to talent management, employee engagement, organizational goals, and leadership competencies. She creates and develops high-performing teams by facilitating customized workshops and providing ongoing coaching. She provides one-on-one customized executive coaching to mid and senior-level leaders. She creates and facilitates leadership and professional development cohort programs to meet the specific needs of organizations, and she leverages behavioral assessment tools for team building and executive coaching.
Previously, Anders was a director of talent and professional development at Comcast Group. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Human Resources Department of the City of Philadelphia as a training and development manager. Anders earned an MSc in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore and an undergraduate degree in psychology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
16. Meghan Marschall
VP, Global Employee Experience Communication, Johnson & Johnson
Meghan Marschall is the Vice President of Global Employee Experience Communication at Johnson & Johnson, a focused healthcare company with expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
As VP, Marschall leads the Employee Experience Communication team that informs, inspires, engages, and activates J&J’s over 130,000 employees worldwide in support of J&J's enterprise and sector priorities. Her team deepens connections to the company's purpose through strategic content development, modern digital and mobile capabilities, intuitive and personalized communication channels, and immersive and inspiring global events. Marschall’s team also leads strategic internal and external communication for key areas of J&J's business, including the Office of DEI, Global community impact, human resources, environmental sustainability, quality and compliance, procurement, healthcare compliance, and crisis management.
Marschall started her career in 1993 as a senior account executive at G. S. Schwartz & Company Inc. From there, she went on to Ruder-Finn, before eventually rising to director of marketing communications at PfizerPfizer, her most recent job before joining the Johnson & Johnson team. Marschall graduated from Lafayette College.
17. Negin Naraghi
VP, Global Client Delivery, Randstad Sourceright
Negin Naraghi is the Vice President of Global Client Delivery at Randstad Sourceright, the leading global talent solutions provider, enabling companies to create sustainable business value and agility by keeping people at the heart of their organizations. Naraghi is a dynamic business leader with over 20 years of experience in the staffing industry. Her career is distinguished by her exceptional leadership skills and deep expertise across multiple sectors, including finance and accounting, office and administrative, sales and marketing, and legal retail staffing.
As a leader, Naraghi excels in fostering collaborative environments, where team members feel empowered and valued. Her approach to leadership is characterized by her ability to break down complex strategies, identify key value drivers, and align team efforts with organizational goals. This strategic acumen, combined with her talent for building and motivating high-performing teams, has been instrumental in managing multi-million dollar P&Ls across various regions and disciplines. Naraghi’s diverse skill set extends to direct hire, executive search and consulting, and RPO operations. This broad knowledge base allows her to lead with a comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape, enabling her to guide her teams effectively through complex challenges and opportunities.
Throughout her career, Naraghi has demonstrated a particular talent for influencing leadership consensus, prioritizing action plans, and securing big-picture wins. Her leadership style emphasizes long-term relationship building, both within her teams and with external stakeholders. She is especially adept at understanding client needs and empowering her teams to deliver exceptional results. Naraghi’s journey exemplifies how combining industry knowledge with strong leadership skills can drive innovation and excellence in workforce solutions. Her commitment to team development and strategic vision continue to make her an inspiring and effective leader in the staffing industry.
18. Lauren Tanzer
Chief Operating Officer, Emergency Department, Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Lauren Tanzer is the Chief Operating Officer of the Emergency Department at Penn Medicine with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Penn Medicine’s mission is to advance knowledge and improve health through research, patient care, and the education of trainees in an inclusive culture that embraces diversity, fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, and supports lifelong learning.
Tanzer is a high-energy leader with a broad knowledge base in healthcare, business operations, finance, project management, quality improvement, and interpersonal awareness. She believes success is accomplished through collaboration, teamwork, goal orientation, and a sense of humor. Her principal strengths include motivating cross-functional team members to excel in their work, providing impactful feedback to colleagues to improve outcomes, and building strategic relationships across the organization.
Tanzer started her career in 2008 as a senior project manager, research coordinator, and research assistant at Drexel University. From there, she eventually rose to director of physician practice administration of pulmonary and sleep medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, her most recent position before joining the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Tanzer graduated from Drexel University's LeBow College of Business with an MBA, from Jefferson Health with a Master's in Healthcare Quality and Safety, and from Pennsylvania State University with an undergraduate degree in psychological and social science.
19. Caitlin Clark-Zigmond
Senior Director of Software/SaaS Marketing, Intel
Caitlin Clark-Zigmond is the Senior Director of Software/SaaS Marketing at Intel. She first joined the company in 2022. Intel’s mission is to shape the future of technology to help create a better future for the entire world.
As an executive with a background in marketing, product marketing, and product management for diverse product and service pipelines, Clark-Zigmond focuses on leading digital strategy and go-to-market execution, delivering meaningful results for enterprise companies in SaaS, fintech, telecom, and cloud computing. She is an experienced leader and entrepreneur who thrives in dynamic environments of innovation and evolution. Previously, Clark-Zigmond was a director of global demand center, mid-market, partner, and large accounting firm marketing at Intuit. Before that, she was a director of marketing and CMO for the public sector at Verizon Business. Earlier in her career, she worked with Instec as a director of operations.
Clark-Zigmond’s accomplishments as a leader include driving strategies for go-to-market execution, implementing cutting-edge digital marketing techniques, monetizing breakthrough insights, and developing roadmaps for vertical-focused solutions while ensuring strong financial integrity. She excels at maximizing productivity, harnessing team strengths, and improving enterprise-wide performance, uncovering untapped opportunities for accelerated growth. Clark-Zigmond earned an undergraduate degree in international business and finance from American University.
20. Stefania Demarco
National Director, CBIZ
As the National Director of Business Development for CBIZ's Accounting, Tax, and Advisory Team, Stefania Demarco leads a team of 25 professionals and oversees organic growth initiatives for the firm. With over 15 years of experience in the public accounting space, she applies her technical skills and industry knowledge to provide innovative and tailored solutions to her clients, helping them achieve their strategic and operational goals.
Demarco has a proven track record of delivering value-added consulting services across various industries, such as financial, manufacturing, and technology. She has supported numerous transactions on both the buy and sell sides, conducting thorough financial, tax, and accounting due diligence and providing market insights and benchmarking. She also ensures ongoing compliance and risk management for her clients, navigating the ever-changing business environment with agility and excellence.
Demarco holds a CPA license in Pennsylvania, and she has an MBA from LaSalle University, where she graduated maxima cum laude and currently serves on the Accounting Advisory Committee for the School of Business.
21. Kinnera Angadi
VP & Chief Product & Technology Officer, Verizon Connect
Kinnera Angadi is the Vice President and Chief Product and Technology Officer at Verizon Connect. The Verizon Connect portfolio of solutions and services includes comprehensive fleet and mobile workforce management software platforms, embedded OEM hardware, and Hum by Verizon, a connected vehicle device that helps create a safer, smarter, and more connected driving experience for consumers.
Angadi has more than 15 years of technology experience. As a leader in digital transformation with a focus on sustainability, Angadi delivers metering innovations, cutting-edge communication platforms, and software solutions. Previously, she served as the chief technology officer for Honeywell Smart Energy & Thermal Solutions. Earlier in her career, Angadi served in leadership roles at Comcast, Cigna, and IBM. She started her career as a software engineer at IBM.
Angadi has a BE in Information Technology and an MS in Computer Science. She also studied Women’s Executive Leadership at The Wharton School.
22. Abby Hiza
HR Business Partner, Data Infra, Meta
Abby Hiza is the HR Business Partner of Data Infra at Meta. Meta (formerly the Facebook company) builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses.
Hiza is a creative HR leader with a passion for driving business strategy through people initiatives. She demonstrates proven agility and possesses extensive experience across multiple HR functions. Energized by enabling individuals with significant capability to excel, she is also deeply committed to culture development. Before joining Meta, Hiza spent almost 10 years at GSK, a biopharma company. Starting as an HR associate, she ended her tenure there as an HR business partner focused on intelligence and machine learning.
Hiza graduated from Villanova University with an undergraduate degree in business administration, management, business law, and corporate governance. While earning her degree, she was a human resources intern with Enterprise Holdings Inc., where she assisted in the recruiting and hiring processes for Enterprise Rent-a-Car, National/Alamo Rental, and WeCar Car Sharing Service. She also completed an internship at Options Group, a leading global executive search and strategic consulting firm.
23. Deirdre Diener
Head of Digital, Data, & Commercial Platforms for NA Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines
With over 26 years of Biopharmaceuticals U.S. and Global commercial leadership experience at renowned companies like GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, and Accenture, Deirdre is a distinguished leader in the industry. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded U.S. and Global commercial teams across diverse therapeutic areas, successfully launching 16 brands and numerous new indications. Over the past 8 years, Deirdre has been at the forefront of scaling omnichannel capabilities and transforming go-to-market strategies by harnessing data, AI, and machine learning across multiple major Pharmaceutical companies.
Deirdre is widely acknowledged as an industry luminary, particularly in fields such as customer and patient experience, Digital Transformation, omnichannel, and data strategy. Beyond her professional achievements, she is deeply committed to nurturing talent, especially aspiring women leaders, aiding them in career advancement and growth.
Currently serving as the Head of Digital, Data, and Commercial Platforms for North America Pharmaceuticals at Johnson & Johnson, Deirdre is also the visionary behind the Lisa Diener Domestic Violence Foundation (LDDVF). As the President of LDDVF, she has steered the organization to raise over $250K, providing crucial support to abuse survivors seeking to rebuild their lives in the tri-state area. Furthermore, as a proud single mother by choice, Deirdre collaborates with Penn Medicine and the community to empower women to explore modern family structures and fertility options.
24. Danamarie Harrison
1 LM Transformation Program Support Director, Lockheed Martin
Danamarie Harrison is a 1 LM Transformation Program Support Director for Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin connects customers with integrated solutions and predictive technologies to ensure they stay ahead of emerging threats. Harrison leads the 1LM Transformation (1LMX) Digital Assist efforts in support of Rotary and Mission Systems. Her role includes providing program management for 1LMX international efforts and offering management support on behalf of the 1LMX Program Office.
Harrison started at Lockheed Martin in 2002 as a systems engineer and has had multiple roles of increasing responsibility. In her previous role as the strategy, products, and research director, she facilitated strategy development for the Mission Solutions line of business, conducted internal research and development, transitioned research to software and artificial intelligence and machine learning products, and pursued new business opportunities.
Harrison graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an MAEd in Educational/Instructional Design and from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with an undergraduate degree in computer science.
25. Valerija Beares
Senior Managing Director, CBRE
Valerija Beares is the Senior Managing Director of CBRE, a leader in commercial real estate. She is the CBRE market leader for the Greater Philadelphia Region, which includes oversight for downtown and suburban Philadelphia, Delaware, Southern New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, and Central Pennsylvania. In this role, she oversees more than 435 full-time employees and is responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy in Greater Philadelphia and delivering integrated client solutions across the company’s advisory services business, including leasing, sales, valuations, debt and structured finance, and property management.
Beares joined CBRE in 2002, advising institutional and entrepreneurial owners in structuring lease transactions and developing lease-up strategies. In 2010, she began focusing exclusively on representing corporate occupiers of real estate and since then has been involved in some of the most significant and notable office transactions in the Philadelphia region as well as globally. Additionally, she served as the leader for CBRE’s Technology and Media Practice in greater Philadelphia. Previously, Beares was a research analyst and newswire editor at CoStar Group.
Beares earned an undergraduate degree in business administration and decision science from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
26. Marissa George
Director, Engagement Strategy, CMI Media Group
Marissa George is the Director of Engagement Strategy at CMI, where she has played a pivotal role for the past five years. Bringing over a decade of expertise in healthcare and pharmaceutical marketing, George leads a dynamic team in omnichannel strategic media planning, she consistently achieves exceptional, data-driven results across diverse therapeutic categories for her clients.
George’s passion for healthcare marketing was ignited by her father, a former vice president at GlaxoSmithKline, inspiring her to excel in the field. Her dedication and expertise have positioned her as a top performer within CMI, culminating in her recognition with the prestigious Q4 2023 CMI Reach Award. This accolade celebrates George as one of only two employees company-wide who exemplify CMI's core value of "We are Best in Class.”
Known for her deep understanding of media strategy, George not only educates and advances her team's knowledge but also fosters robust external relationships, establishing herself as an invaluable resource within the organization.
27. Meg Ehm
Senior Director, External Innovation, GSK
Meg Ehm is the Senior Director of External Innovation at GSK, a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. In her role, Ehm develops new partnerships with external companies to advance precision medicine in the oncology and specialty care space.
Ehm joined GlaxoWellcome in 1995 as their first statistical geneticist and has since progressed within GSK through a series of progressively challenging roles beginning with statistical analysis and working in a cross therapeutic capacity. Recently, she fostered the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) for target identification and validation building on her knowledge of EHR data and genetic information with biobanks in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Most recently, Ehm was the pharmaceutical partner chair for FinnGen, a pharma biobank external consortium in Finland with 13 pharma and 10 biobank partners, which she helped to develop into an exemplar of pre-competitive innovation in the genetics field. She has joined GSK's Precision Medicine department, which drives impact across the organization at the pipeline, drug, and study levels through biomarkers and precision medicine solutions. She enjoys supporting the development of high school students and young scientists through coaching, summer internships, and job shadowing.
Before joining GSK, Ehm was an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University. Earlier in her career, she worked with Glaxo Wellcome as a senior project analyst in bioinformatics. Ehm graduated from Rice University with a PhD in Statistics and from Vanderbilt University with an undergraduate degree in mathematics and computer science.
28. Raina Murdock
Senior Director, Learning Solutions Creation Center, Pfizer
Raina Murdock is the Senior Director of the Learning Solutions Creation Center at Pfizer, which is responsible for advancing Pfizer’s learning ecosystem to bolster colleague engagement, inspire innovation, and drive business outcomes.
As an established driver of transformation with more than 20 years of experience at Pfizer, Murdock has successfully led strategic initiatives that include creating the Digital Vendor Management Office and driving the Learning Adoption Program. She is deeply passionate about developing the future of talent, as evidenced by her work with the Digital Scholars Program and Junior Achievement. Murdock first joined the company in 2004 as an information project manager.
Previously, Murdock was a project manager at Alliance Consulting. Before that, she was a director of product marketing at IP Network, Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked with Andersen Consulting as a consultant. Murdock earned an undergraduate degree in management information systems from Penn State University.
29. Barbara Zaun
Philadelphia Eagles Director of Entertainment Teams
A dynamic professional in the NFL for over 20 years, Barbara's approach to innovation within her role has led to many firsts. Barbara managed the Entertainment team’s participation at major sports events including Super Bowl LVII, LII, and XXIX, along with directing their involvement as global brand ambassadors during international fan engagement tours in the UK, Mexico, Canada, and Hong Kong. Committed to honoring United States service members, Barbara initiated the first international goodwill military tour by the Eagles Cheerleaders in Bosnia, followed by Iraq and Kuwait, and to date, the team has now visited over 70 military installations worldwide.
She served as Executive Producer of a popular one-hour televised special that aired on NFL Network and was involved in the collaboration with Vera Wang to become the first team in the NFL outfitted by an internationally renowned designer. Barbara was instrumental in the creation of a first-of-its-kind mobile app, and within 5 days of the launch, it ranked on Google Play's list of Top 5 Sports Apps. She fostered the inclusion of environmental sustainability into projects prior to it being a mainstream practice, resulting in the first eco-friendly calendar in the NFL as producer and creative director. Barbara has obtained high-profile opportunities for the Entertainment Teams with features in top publications, national and international television programming, as well as in-concert performances with iconic music artists.
Dedicated to humanitarian outreach, Barbara has facilitated numerous international service trips within the organization, including helping to provide access to clean water in remote villages and aiding in improving living conditions for underserved communities. Passionate about women in sports initiatives, she was recently a featured speaker on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's prestigious Before the Snap program. A graduate of DeSales University, Barbara also completed the Yale School of Management Executive Education Women’s Leadership Program.
30. Aleshia Pate
Founder, CEO, The Hustle Mom Non-Profit Organization
Aleshia Pate is the Founder and CEO of The Hustle Mom Non-Profit Organization. The Hustle Mommies nonprofit and brand is a movement designed to empower urban, inner-city moms to be leaders in their homes and their communities. Pate personally coaches and mentors young women and mothers in her spare time as she advocates for them around the city.
Pate, born and raised in Philadelphia, is a driven, ambitious, and extraordinarily talented young woman who demonstrates leadership skills, positive business practices and organized developmental skills in her career, business, and community affairs. She has almost 10 years in the financial industry. She has worked for Bank of New York Mellon for five years in their Asset Servicing department handling multiple mutual funds and investments. She also has five strong years in accounts management for the US Treasury, where she handles International large business and investments from taxpayers around the world.
Pate’s education derives from Bloomsburg University, where she majored in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. She does public speaking in various communities, shelters, and city schools. She helps her community with various knowledge and information on all sorts of subject matters she learns that affect and benefit families. She currently serves her community through philanthropy, volunteering, hosting free seminars, and teaching workshops that have been written by her and her team.
31. Kimberly Basile
VP, IT Transformation and Strategy, Kyndryl
Kimberly Basile is the Vice President of IT Transformation and Strategy at Kyndryl. She first joined the company in 2022. Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. is an American multinational information technology infrastructure services provider.
Basile is a global IT and cyber executive for Fortune 500 companies with a track record of implementing initiatives that enhance security, risk mitigation, cost management, compliance, and business resiliency. She mentors and leads teams to achieve sustainable and exceptional performance. As an innovative and analytical problem solver, she excels in addressing complex challenges.
Previously, Basile was a department head of global enterprise security at Vanguard. Before that, she was a senior vice president and chief information security officer at Leidos. Earlier in her career, she worked with Lockheed Martin as an accountant.
32. Marybeth Gray
SVP of Health & Welfare Consulting, Trion
Marybeth Gray has spent more than 25 years in the employee benefits field as an advocate working to help put access to quality healthcare within reach of every employee and their family. She currently serves as a Senior Vice President of Health and Welfare Consulting at Trion, a Marsh McLennan Firm. She serves as the team lead and manages the overall account teams for her clients. She works with all-size employers to deploy cost-effective strategies that will raise the quality of care, increase access to equitable care, and lower the cost to both the employer and employee. Together with her team, Gray has saved clients millions of dollars with an innovative strategic approach that helps employers understand what’s coming next.
Formerly a VP with AON Consulting, Gray specialized in utilization and data management to understand key cost drivers. She is an expert in developing and redesigning pharmacy programs and understanding the cost drivers within these programs. She has developed key strategies for specialty medication, gene therapies, and many other emerging treatments employers will have to solve. Before Aon, she served as a national account manager with Aetna Inc. for eight years, where she was responsible for clients with more than 10,000 employees operating in multiple locations. Gray served on the Aetna Presidents Roundtable Committee, fostering communications between clients and the president’s office regarding suggested changes that would improve Aetna’s operational procedures.
Recently, Gray was named EBN’s 2017 Most Influential Women in Benefit Advising, among 30 leaders whose unique client management strategies, innovative data manipulation, and other industry-leading skills are transforming the field. Gray is featured on the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement site. She earned an undergraduate degree in health policy and administration from Penn State University.
33. Vanessa Martin
Director, Brand Analytics, AstraZeneca
Vanessa Martin is the Director of Brand Analytics at AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca plc is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England. It has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory, and inflammation, and was involved in developing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Martin has 19 years of experience. At AstraZeneca, Martin partners closely with the ANDEXXA and LOKELMA brand teams as well as cross-functional partners, serving as an internal consultant to the brand teams. She plays a key role in advising and counseling business partners in the development of new and existing business strategies, and she leads and co-creates national, local market, and customer-level analyses across the cardiovascular and hyperkalemia markets.
Before joining AstraZeneca, Martin was an associate director of medical affairs insights and cardiovascular at Johnson & Johnson. Before that, she was a senior methodologist and engagement manager at IQVIA. Earlier in her career, she worked with Youngstown State University as a graduate assistant. Martin graduated from Youngstown State University with an MA in Economics and from Duquesne University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
34. Michalle Adkins
Director, Life Sciences Strategy and Direction, Emerson
Michalle Adkins, Director of Life Sciences Consulting at Emerson Process Management, has over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. Emerson is a leading global technology, software, and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial and commercial markets.
Adkins and her team use their varied experiences in manufacturing, automation, and engineering to work with several top pharmaceutical and biotech companies providing consulting services in digital transformation, digital roadmap planning, project justification and definition, operations improvement, and, front-end engineering and design definition. Adkins is passionate about digital transformation, operational excellence, continuous improvement, Lean Six Sigma, automation, operations management, and MES.
Before joining Emerson, Adkins worked with Merck & Co. Inc. as an engineer and an assistant engineer in instrumentation and automation. Adkins has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an ME in Industrial Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Six Sigma Black Belt Master’s Certificate from Villanova University.
35. Dana McDonald
Senior Director, New Business, Impact XM
Dana McDonald serves as the Senior Director of New Business Development at Impact XM, an award-winning, full-service global experiential marketing agency with over 50 years of expertise in creating unforgettable live events, activations, and branded environments for some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Amazon, Astellas, AT&T, BASF, Epic Games, Nvidia, and Takeda, among many others.
In her role at Impact XM, Dana is a strategic advisor to new and prospective clients, helping them navigate and define strategies to achieve their brand goals. She excels in implementing successful sales campaigns and initiatives that drive growth within IXM. Dana leads the development of cross-functional teams for new partner program opportunities and strategic responses, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to each project.
Dana brings over 15 years of extensive experience in business development, sales leadership, design management, operations, multi-site operations, team management, RFP management, and project coordination. Before joining Impact XM, she was the Director of Sales and Business Development at Her Campus Media, a leading media portfolio targeting Gen Z and college demographics. Prior to that, Dana was the Strategic Director of Business Development at MC2, an experiential marketing agency, where she spearheaded strategic initiatives for new sales growth, managed new business opportunities, and mentored colleagues in sales operations and best practices.
Dana’s significant experience also includes her time at Sparks, an experiential marketing agency, where she oversaw Sales Operations and CRM directives for new business development and growth. She managed the new business development team and worked directly on both domestic and international account management for various experiential program accounts. Earlier in her career, Dana contributed her expertise to Camuto Group, a leader in the fashion industry, as a vendor compliance and distribution processing administrator.
Dana McDonald holds a BS in Business Management with a minor in Marketing from Philadelphia University.
36. Melissa Marth
VP & GM, Medical Affairs, IQVIA
Melissa Pirolli Marth is Vice President for US Medical Affairs at IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. IQVIA creates intelligent connections across all aspects of healthcare through its analytics, transformative technology, big data resources, and extensive domain expertise.
Marth has over 18 years of experience analyzing real-world data, including both primary and secondary healthcare data. During her time at IQVIA, Marth has focused on specialty areas like hematology/oncology, non-malignant hematology therapeutic, and autoimmune spaces. Marth leverages her advanced statistical skills and clinical knowledge to support forecasting, market sizing, health outcomes research, safety, payer reimbursement, and launch excellence. Utilizing anonymized, longitudinal patient-level claims and EHR/EMR data, Marth has published several papers in journals and presented posters at conferences.
Before joining IQVIA, Marth conducted primary market research projects at TVG. She performed segmentation analysis, fielded/analyzed quantitative online studies, and developed/conducted in-depth interviews with physicians, patients, and payers. During her graduate studies, Marth taught algebra and statistics classes at Duquesne University. Marth has a BA in Mathematics and an MS in Computational Mathematics from Duquesne University.
37. Casandra Dominguez
Head of Consumer Insights, IKEA
Casandra Dominguez is the Head of Consumer Insights at IKEA US. IKEA offers well-designed, functional, affordable, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment. Their value chain includes everything from product development, design, supply, manufacture, and sales.
Dominguez started at IKEA in February 2021 as an insights leader and was promoted to her current position in September 2022. Before joining IKEA, she was the director of research for Cushman & Wakefield. Before that, she was the director of business attraction and retention for the Center City District, where she managed the business attraction program to increase commercial investment and development in Center City, Philadelphia. Dominguez authored various commercial real estate reports and helped create and implement economic development strategies, including all the marketing and communication pieces. She also conducted internal strategic consulting projects for the organization and managed the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC), a nonprofit business leadership organization.
Earlier in her career, Dominguez completed an internship in strategic consulting at PFM, a financial consulting firm. She also worked as a client associate at Merrill Lynch and as an investor relations and sales analyst with Proxima Alfa. Dominguez graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an MPA and from the University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in international relations.
38. Margarita Davis-Boyer
Managing Director of Prevention & Family Support, Belmont Charter Network
Margarita Davis-Boyer is an innovator and driven social worker with 23 years of experience and an extensive history of working in nonprofit and educational settings. She is expertly skilled in child welfare, social services, policy development, implementation of strategic planning efforts, crisis intervention, and program evaluation. She currently serves as the Managing Director of Prevention and Family Support at Belmont Charter Network. Davis-Boyer manages the five schools' social services component at the Belmont Charter network.
Her commitment to empowering and uplifting youth is exemplified through her role as the founder and program manager of the Eagle Youth Program at Corinthian Baptist Church of Germantown. This program provides valuable support and guidance to youth in grades 6 through 12. Additionally, Davis-Boyer serves as the vice president for the scholarship program, further highlighting her dedication to fostering opportunities for educational advancement. Her perspective provides a more in-depth approach to social work and youth development.
Davis-Boyer has a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on Criminal Justice, as well as a Master's degree in Social Work from Temple University. She has served as a member of both the Community Oversight Board and the Child Welfare Oversight Board, allowing her to continue advocating for the social and emotional well-being of youth in the foster care system. She has served as the founding youth development specialist and counselor for Temple University's Center for Social Policy and Community Development, the first appointed lower school social worker at Steven Girard College, the founding youth development specialist for the Department of Human Services in Philadelphia, and a founding resilient specialist for Vaux Big Picture High School.
39. Sarah McKeown-Cannon
VP, Growth, Clinical Trial Experience, Publicis Health
Sarah McKeown-Cannon is the Vice President of Growth and Clinical Trial Experience at Publicis Health, the health and wellness vertical of Publicis Groupe, the most established communications holding company in the world.
McKeown-Cannon is an expert in Clinical Trial Experience (CTE), providing innovative patient recruitment and engagement solutions that enrich study experiences and deliver measurable results. She is driven by her commitment to making a difference in people's lives, by understanding all the dimensions that make them human and translating that into meaningful engagement. She combines her deep knowledge of global healthcare intelligence with a keen focus on the patient and site perspective to develop bespoke recruitment and retention initiatives that consistently bring big results. Her work inspires clients to think further, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible in clinical trial design, challenging the status quo to accelerate clinical development timelines and ensure global diversity. Her recent speaking engagements at the Summit for Clinical Operations Executives (SCOPE), SXSW, and Patients as Partners highlight her passion for sharing new and innovative ways to make a difference to patients globally.
Before joining Publicis Health, McKeown-Cannon was a senior account executive at Langland. Before that, she was a checkout supervisor and customer service desk partner at Waitrose. Earlier in her career, she worked with St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a dietician assistant. McKeown-Cannon graduated from the University of Birmingham with an undergraduate degree in infection and immunity.
40. Flora Petillo
Chief Operating Officer, AlignMed Partners
Flora Petillo began her professional career 24 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer of AlignMed Partners. AlignMed Partners (formerly Genesis Physician Services) delivers a national team of physicians and advanced practice providers to enhance the clinical capabilities of skilled nursing and long-term care facilities and improve patient outcomes.
With 25 years of clinical and management experience, Petillo has provided medical care to patients and organizational leadership across a variety of settings, including post-acute and LTC centers. In addition to her post-acute care background, Petillo has five years of experience working in a physical medicine and rehabilitation and chronic pain management practice. She started her career in 2000 as a partner at On-Site Specialty Care, LLC.
Petillo graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Science in Nursing and Counseling Psychology, and an undergraduate degree in political science and psychology.
41. Karen Norheim
President & CEO, American Crane & Equipment Corp.
Karen Norheim is the President and CEO of American Crane and Equipment Corporation (ACECO), the leading manufacturer of overhead crane systems, hoists, and material handling equipment for nuclear applications, aerospace, and many more industries. ACECO has been a trusted source of high-quality specialty lifting equipment for over 50 years.
Through her work with ACECO, Norheim found her passion for manufacturing. She oversees company operations and maintains a strong leadership team. She is responsible for guiding efforts to achieve the company’s mission and vision. She drives innovation and enhancements to the customer experience. In addition to supporting the ACECO team, Norheim actively supports STEAM programs, as well as programs that support women in the manufacturing field.
Norheim, a distinguished alumna of Penn State Great Valley, received her MSIS and MBA degrees from the institution in 2007 and 2009, respectively. She has been recognized for her leadership and professional development throughout her community, winning awards such as the VISTAGE Leadership Award, the Diamonds of the Decades Award, and many more! She is eager to continue telling her story through her fourth coming book titled The Viking Gardener and she is looking forward to the development and continued success of American Crane & Equipment Corporation.
42. Dina Pokedoff
Senior VP, Communications, North America, Kuehne+Nagel
Dina Pokedoff is the Senior Vice President of Communications in North America for Kuehne+Nagel, the logistics partner of choice for 400,000 customers worldwide. Using its global network, logistics expertise, and data-based insights, the group provides end-to-end supply chain solutions for global companies and industries.
A driven and results-oriented senior brand and communications leader, Pokedoff excels in developing strong, replicable communications disciplines that enable her to meet and exceed client and partner expectations, even in heavily matrixed, global organizations. She has a proven track record of creating and executing metrics-driven, award-winning campaigns for partners and clients across various industries, including manufacturing, higher education, healthcare, finance, insurance, telecommunications, and not-for-profits.
Pokedoff started her career in 1999 as a senior account executive at STAR/Rosen Public Relations. From there, she went on to Tattar Richards Public Relations, before eventually rising to corporate communications director at Trinseo, her most recent position before joining Kuehne+Nagel. Pokedoff graduated from Skidmore College with an undergraduate degree in French and government.
43. Susan Vallow
Executive Director, Patient-Centered Outcomes Strategy (Head, PCO), Novartis
Susan Vallow is the Executive Director of Patient-Centered Outcomes Strategy and Head of PCO for Novartis, an innovative medicines company. Vallow is a passionate outcomes researcher and leader with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of therapeutic areas.
Vallow has successfully formed and led teams from patient-reported outcome (PRO) strategy development for a drug development program to label claims of clinical treatment benefits to enable patient access to new drugs. Previously, Vallow was VP of Patient-centered outcomes strategy at MedAvante-ProPhase, where she was the PRO science head and led the design of patient-facing technologies for clinical trials. While at GSK, she was senior director and head of patient-focused outcomes, where she built and led the team responsible for PRO strategies as well as eCOA implementation. At Johnson & Johnson, she was responsible for developing and leading neurology and analgesia PRO strategies and led the eCOA initiative to enable the electronic collection of PRO data in JNJ clinical trials.
Vallow is active in industry-wide patient-focused initiatives, to help shape the environment and also bring innovation and the latest thinking into Novartis. She is currently co-lead of the SCLC Working Group of the Critical-Path (C-Path) Institute’s Patient Reported Outcomes Consortium and the Novartis Representative on the IMI H2O consortium and National Health Council’s Advisory Committee for the Patient-Centered Core Impact Set Initiative. She served as co-chair of C-Path’s ePRO subcommittee and Research Committee Co-Lead. Vallow earned an MA in Economics from Fox School of Business at Temple University, an MBA, in Business Management from Villanova University, and an undergraduate degree in pharmacy from Temple University School of Pharmacy.
44. Tara Mogan
Chief Marketing Officer, Co-Owner & Founder, e-Beach Wagon
Tara Mogan is a marketing powerhouse, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and co-owner of e-Beach Wagon, a groundbreaking premium electric motorized beach wagon, and the visionary founder of iMarketeur, a cutting-edge consulting firm specializing in home improvement marketing. With a stellar 22-year career in marketing, including 14 years dominating the home improvement sector, Mogan has consistently shattered expectations and pioneered new frontiers. Her unparalleled expertise in integrated marketing, collaboration with renowned brands, and mastery in steering large-scale marketing strategies have cemented her reputation as an extraordinarily accomplished and influential industry leader.
Before embarking on her consulting journey, Mogan was the driving force behind Horizon Group Holdings' explosive growth. She expertly managed marketing for 12 home service companies, propelling them to a combined revenue surpassing $300 million, and orchestrated the company's ambitious expansion across eight states and seven metropolitan statistical areas. This remarkable growth was achieved through a strategic blend of organic development and acquisitions. Her exceptional strategic insight and comprehensive skill set were further proven through her instrumental role in the successful sale of three companies, two via private equity and one through a private sale.
At e-Beach Wagon, Mogan spearheads innovative marketing initiatives, revolutionizing the beach transportation industry with her premium motorized wagon, which she co-owns with her husband, Michael. Since its sensational debut in 2020, this luxury wagon has been making waves with its state-of-the-art design and unmatched functionality, setting a new benchmark for high-end carts. Engineered to hold up to 300 pounds, navigate diverse terrains, and travel approximately 5 miles on a single charge, the e-Beach Wagon provides beachgoers with an unparalleled blend of convenience and efficiency.
Mogan's distinctive leadership style, characterized by an unwavering sense of ownership and commitment, consistently drives exceptional results across both B2B and B2C sectors. She has previously transformed and elevated iconic brands such as Walgreens, Coca-Cola, Wyeth, Window Nation, and Nu Look Home Design, solidifying her legacy as a marketing luminary.
45. Megan Donadio
Senior Director, Analytics Success, Nike
Megan Donadio is the Senior Director of Analytics Success at Nike. She has 25 years of deep retail industry experience in product development, sourcing, merchandise planning processes, and organizational transformations.
Donadio has a diverse range of work experience in various roles and industries. In 2008, she worked as a business analyst at Lockheed Martin Information Technology, where she provided support for enterprise programs and identified cost-saving opportunities. From 2010 to 2014, she worked at Fulcrum Vets, LLC, initially as a business analyst and later as a senior account manager, leading initiatives to obtain CMMI Level 2 appraisals. Donadio also successfully managed high-profile accounts and provided exemplary service to customers and employees. In 2012, she served as a business operations manager at Sapphire Solutions and Services, LLC. From 2014 to 2015, she worked as a project manager and quality assurance analyst at Edaptive Systems, LLC. In 2018 and 2019, she was part of the Celect leadership team, where she worked to bring predictive analytics to retail through the Celect optimization suite throughout the merchandise, planning, and allocation processes.
Donadio completed her education with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Strayer University, where she studied from 2011 to 2013. Before that, she obtained an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Carroll County Community College, where she studied from 2007 to 2010.
46. Charlene Troncelliti
VP, Human Resources, Fresenius Medical Care
Charlene Troncelliti is the Vice President of Human Resources of Fresenius Medical Care. She first joined the company in 2016 as director of human resources for the East division and Northeast group. Fresenius Medical Care is the world’s leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases.
Troncelliti is a strategic human resource thought leader in the full spectrum of human resources, providing leadership and consultation to global and domestic teams, from front-line to C-suite with corporate groups, information technology, operations, and sales for Fortune 500 and private companies in healthcare and service industries. As a strategic partner, she collaborates and aligns with business leaders on strategy and complex business issues to enable proactive business solutions and serves as a catalyst for innovative HR initiatives.
Previously, Troncelliti was a director of human resources at Siemens Healthcare (newly acquired by Cerner Corp). Before that, she was a director of human resources and corporate groups at Quest Diagnostics, Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked as a human resources generalist. Troncelliti earned an MA in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in human resource management from Ursinus College.
47. Courtney Altemus
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Advance NIL & TeamAltemus, LLC
Courtney Altemus is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Advance, as well as CEO & Founder of TeamAltemus, LLC.
Courtney is an unbiased consultant and educator to athletes. As a former Wall Street executive, she brings decades of expertise and experience in helping athletes reach their financial goals and manage their money. Now, as an objective and independent consultant, instead of managing assets, she educates athletes about all things financial, helps clients vet and monitor their advisors, and prepares them for their future.
During her investment career, Courtney worked at Barclays, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, and DLJ. She began her career at Wells Fargo in commercial and investment banking. She has served on the Alumni and Business Advisory Boards at La Salle University and as an advisor to the World Series of Entrepreneurship. Courtney currently serves on the Board of the Philadelphia Youth Organization/Marian Anderson Recreation Center, and the Jean and Raymont Harris Foundation.
48. Theresa Zeller
Global Head, Learning Creation, Merck
Theresa Zeller is the Global Head of Learning Creation at Merck. She first joined the company in 1995 as the manager and director of instructional design. At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, they use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.
Zeller is an agile, collaborative, and strategic global leader with experience in building trusted partnerships with leaders and stakeholders, resulting in measurable business value. She excels in driving agile and innovative learning approaches, leading learning strategy, change, and cultural transformation, and developing high-performance teams to accelerate talent and build capability. She co-owned a small business with her husband and currently supports nonprofit organizations in strategic planning and leadership development.
Previously, Zeller was a manager of corporate training at Novacare. Earlier in her career, she worked with Nutri/System as a manager and sales trainer. She earned an MA in Communication and Training from the University of Maryland and an undergraduate degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Penn State University.
49. Elyse Lupin
President & Founder, Elysium Marketing Group
Elyse Lupin is the President and Founder of Elysium Marketing Group, which specializes in dynamic marketing strategy and upscale marketing creative. With over 20 years of marketing experience, Lupin provides expertise in the areas of marketing strategy, food and franchise marketing, digital marketing, branding, and brand strategy. Her broad marketing background spans years of working at big-name brands, such as Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, NBC, and New Balance Athletic Shoe.
Lupin began to lay the foundations for her career at The Pennsylvania State University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, she served as an NBC Page, working on Today and Saturday Night Live. She then as a publicity assistant for several companies in New York City before becoming the marketing and promotions manager for Radio Disney in Philadelphia. While at Disney, Lupin oversaw more than 50 large-scale events and concerts and partnered with local media and sponsors on various integrated marketing campaigns. In 2007, she returned to school to earn her MBA at Boston University. During her studies, she worked as an MBA Intern for New Balance Athletic Shoe in Boston. One of only five interns chosen for the summer of 2008, she was asked to stay with the company and during her final year of school continue her role in consumer insights.
After completing her MBA, Lupin returned to Philadelphia and accepted a position with Comcast, first within the product marketing group working on go-to-market strategy and then within the direct marketing group working on campaign testing and strategies for email acquisition, direct mail, and retention marketing. After Comcast, Lupin accepted the director of marketing position at Philadelphia magazine. In 2015, she started Elysium Marketing Group. She has served as an adjunct professor at Temple University, and she is the founder of the working mom resource, The WoMo Network. Lupin sits on the board of the Center for Loss and Bereavement and acts as an advisor for ShadowHer. She has a passion for traveling, especially in Europe, and cherishes quality time with her husband and two kids.
50. Ashlee Hollis
President, Helm Creative Studio
Ashlee Hollis is a visionary leader with the ability to champion creatives, and the President and Founder of award-winning Helm Creative Studio, a certified woman-owned business and creative agency and production house that is redefining what it means to lead one’s story. Within Philadelphia, Ashlee and her husband, Elijah, additionally pastor CHANGE Church, a multi-generational and diverse church, and are the Founders of The Story Factory, a city block-sized building wrapped in mural art and created with the mission to build stories out to build people up. With previous experience both as a youth pastor and as a life, health, and disability insurance agent, Ashlee is committed to supporting and championing the next generation, while also recognizing what moves people’s hearts when it comes to not only their net worth but their legacy. Her unique ability to understand the motivations of key stakeholders, transforming them into tangible actions, and also translating them to cast vision for creatives, has proven to be a niche that allows for the multiplication of positive impact across industries.
In addition to the awards won for Helm, Ashlee has received a 2024 American Business Award for “Maverick of the Year,” of which she won a silver Stevie Award, in recognition of one who’s affected the most positive change on his or her company and/or industry since 2022. She, along with her husband, Elijah, has received a citation from the City of Philadelphia for their commitment to positive social impact within the city. With multiple degrees, including an Associate in Business Administration, a Digital Marketing Certification, and a certified Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy from The American College of Financial Services, Ashlee is merging her intelligence with her drive for social impact and creative excellence through each initiative she leads and creates.