9.00 - 9.05: Welcome

9.05 - 9.45: Tracing Parallel Paths of Women's Health and Workplace Equity

As the New York Academy of Medicine building approaches its 100th anniversary, this session explores the intertwined evolution of women’s health and workplace equity. From early pioneers like Mary Putnam Jacoby to the maternal mortality report that sparked reform in 1933, NYAM has long been at the center of progress and controversy in women’s health.
Panelists will trace how second-wave feminists in the 1970s challenged male-dominated medicine using science and evidence, ultimately reshaping both healthcare and professional life. Today, with evidence-based systems under renewed threat, the historical parallels are striking and instructive.
Join us for a conversation that connects the past to the present, asking where systems have advanced, where they’ve fallen short, and how understanding our history can help drive more inclusive, integrated progress in both health and the workplace.
Dr. Barron H. Lerner is a historian of medicine and bioethicist in the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He has written five books, articles for major medical journals, as well as essays for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Slate, theatlantic.com and many other publications. Dr. Lerner is currently the Vice President of the American Association for the History of Medicine.
Dr. Lerner discusses history, bioethics and clinical medicine regularly on National Public Radio programs, including “Fresh Air,” “All Things Considered,” “The Takeaway” and “All of It,” as well as many other media outlets. He has also given hundreds of talks, including Grand Rounds presentations, on various aspects of his research.
Dr. Lerner practices internal medicine and primary care at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.
Dr. Kurth became President of The New York Academy of Medicine on January 1, 2023.
Dr. Kurth joined NYAM from Yale University, where she was the Dean and Linda Koch Lorimer Professor at Yale School of Nursing and Professor, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at Yale School of Public Health.
An epidemiologist (PhD UW, MPH Columbia) and certified nurse-midwife (MSN Yale), Dr. Kurth draws from the perspectives of her STEAM (STEM + arts/humanities) disciplinary training. Dr. Kurth’s research focuses on HIV/reproductive health, and global health system strengthening, in the context of pandemics, climate change and other stresses—all of which have a disproportionate effect on structurally marginalized populations. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIAID, NIMH, NICHD, NIDA), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNAIDS, CDC, HRSA, and others, for studies in the U.S. and internationally, with over $20 million as principal investigator. At Yale Dr. Kurth co-founded the Yale Institute for Global Health, a cross-university research effort. Dr. Kurth has published 237 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and scholarly monographs and presented at hundreds of scientific conferences and invited talks.
Dr. Kurth is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, where she has been named an Emerging Leader, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and the American College of Nurse-Midwives (FACNM). She is past chair of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health, the member association of 175+ universities supporting “academic institutions to improve the wellbeing of people and the planet.” She served on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets prevention and screening guidelines for the United States. Dr. Kurth currently co-chairs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Global Health and serves on the board of Yale New Haven Hospital.
Kristy Kade is an accomplished advocate, movement builder and executive leader. Across her 20-year career championing women’s rights across spheres, she has successfully developed and implemented policy and social change strategies across six continents. Serving as Director of Policy and Advocacy at both Pathfinder International and PATH, and CEO of White Ribbon Alliance Global, Kristy has a proven track record of leading high-impact teams, diversifying portfolios, and shaping every aspect of programs and companies—from inception to mindful closure. As a collaborative leader of teams, departments, and organizations—both large and small—Krisy has transformed behaviors, processes, and structures to make them better places to work for women, and ultimately better at what they do. In 2025, Kristy launched KKCC to help other organizations and leaders enhance their culture and impact, while simultaneously pursuing advanced studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University. People spend most of their time at work. We remake work, we remake the world.

9:45 - 10.15: When Data Disappears: The Economic Fallout of Undermining Women's Health Research

The absence of robust data on women’s health isn’t just a medical issue, it’s a workplace one. From absenteeism and misdiagnosis to career interruptions and delayed treatments, the long-standing gaps in women’s health research have real consequences for productivity, retention, and workforce equity. This session explores how decades of underinvestment in women’s health data have created blind spots for employers that impact productivity, retention and workforce equity. And why closing those gaps is essential to building healthier, more resilient teams. Attendees will gain insight into the economic and strategic case for prioritizing women’s health data and how forward-looking companies can help lead a global shift toward better outcomes and stronger, more resilient teams.
Joanne Stone, MD, MS, is the System Chair of the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Stone is a well-known expert in the field of maternal-fetal medicine and previously served as the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division Director and Fellowship Director for the Mount Sinai Health System. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Mount Sinai-Rainbow Clinic that provides enhanced prenatal care following stillbirth.

Dr. Stone’s clinical interests are in multiple gestations, perinatal loss, prenatal diagnosis, and invasive fetal procedures. Her research interests span the gamut of multifetal pregnancies, labor induction, and ultrasound. She has also conducted several randomized trials, expanding knowledge on the important topics of cervical ripening, safe labor induction, and reducing surgical site infections in patients undergoing scheduled cesarean deliveries. She currently serves as the co-Principal Investigator for the Generation C Study, evaluating pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Stone continues to have a busy consultative and clinical practice, specializing in the care of high-risk pregnancies, as well as being active in teaching.
Dr. Stone is a Past-President of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and serves on the Board for the Foundation for SMFM. She also serves on the Board of the Gottesfeld-Hohler Memorial Foundation, the PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy Advisory Board, and is Chair of the Sonography Community for the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). She previously served on the Executive Board of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Dr. Stone currently serves as the immediate past President for Mount Sinai Faculty Council. She also was the recipient of the prestigious Jacobi Medallion at Mount Sinai in 2022. Dr. Stone is an associate editor of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the co-author of the books Pregnancy for Dummies and The Pregnancy Bible. She has been named both a Castle Connolly/New York Magazine Top Doctor and a New York Times Magazine Super Doctor each year for more than a decade.
Dr. Stone received her medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed her residency and fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and continued as full-time faculty. She also holds a master’s degree in healthcare delivery and leadership from Icahn Mount Sinai.
Leslee J. Shaw, PhD, is a leading outcomes researcher whose major focus is clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, including a special focus on sex differences. Dr. Shaw is an endowed chair and tenured professor with appointments in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science; Population Health; and Cardiology. She is the Director of the Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute and Vice Chair for Research in the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In her roles, she leads women’s health researchers across the Mount Sinai Health System, including multidisciplinary teams to tackle compelling research issues in women’s health.
Dr. Shaw has published more than 1,000 publications and presented more than 500 abstracts in major scientific meetings in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. She has been ranked as one of the top one-percent of clinical researchers with the most highly cited publications (awarded by Thomson Reuters), with an H-index >154.
Based on her scientific contributions, in 2009, Dr. Shaw was recognized with the Simon Dack Award for academic excellence from the American College of Cardiology and, in 2013, the Coalition to Reduce Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Award for her research contributions in racial and ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease. In 2013, she received the Woman’s Day Red Dress Award for her scientific contributions to women’s health. In 2020, she was awarded the Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Award from the American College of Cardiology. Also, in 2020, she received the Nanette Wenger, MD Award from the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, and the Distinguished Investigator Award from the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. Dr. Shaw is a Past President of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. She is the only individual having served as president of two medical societies within cardiovascular medicine.
Anna Barbieri, MD, is a board-certified gynecologist with advanced training in integrative medicine, dedicated to delivering truly personalized, patient-centered care. She specializes in perimenopause and menopause management, tailoring nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and hormonal and non-hormonal treatments to each patient’s unique needs.
As the founder of an integrative women’s health practice in New York City, Dr. Barbieri provides expert care in gynecology and women’s hormonal health. Her practice also offers specialized support in the areas of sexual medicine, nutrition, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and integrative primary care, as well as dedicated care for women at high risk for or recovering from cancer.
Dr. Barbieri completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she now serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Strategy Leader for the upcoming Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness. She is a certified menopause practitioner through the Menopause Society and a fellow of the University of Arizona’s Integrative Medicine fellowship. Additionally, she is the founding physician of Elektra Health, a digital menopause healthcare company.
Susan Khalil, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and an Assistant Professor in the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Khalil specializes in gynecologic surgery, skilled in both laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and has a clinical focus in endometriosis, pelvic pain, and fibroids. She is also involved with quality improvement and patient safety initiatives in gynecologic surgery to enhance the delivery of services and patient outcomes.

Dr. Khalil attended medical school at the Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital. She is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, an American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists accredited fellowship, which she completed at Mount Sinai. She also holds a Master’s in Healthcare Leadership from the Graduate School at Mount Sinai. Dr. Khalil is passionate about caring for women at all stages of life, from adolescence to menopause, and is committed to helping patients with their wellness.

As federal and state mandates around equity, healthcare, and workplace protections face increasing pushback, the responsibility to support women in the workforce is shifting from public policy to private enterprise. But not all aspects of women’s experience belong in the “equity” bucket.
This session reframes the conversation by spotlighting how biologic differences between men and women, from contraception to menopause, aren’t about fairness, but about fundamental health. Understanding and supporting these needs is essential to enabling women to live healthy, productive lives. And to building sustainable, high-performing teams.
We’ll explore how recent policy rollbacks are reshaping expectations for employers, and what forward-thinking companies are doing to lead with purpose and pragmatism in a climate of political uncertainty. Because in today’s environment, supporting women’s health isn’t just about values, it’s about long-term business resilience.
Cara McNulty, DPA is a highly regarded, national leader and health scientist whose success in driving population well being outcomes spans the employer, government, payer, provider, start-up and education sectors. As the CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health, she influences the national conversation on breaking the stigma around mental health and improving access to behavioral health care for individuals, families and communities across the country. Driven by a profound sense of purpose, Cara leads Vibrant into a new era of creating meaningful impact for the national mental well being system and those seeking help.
Cara is known for her ability to integrate evidence-based health science into practical business models that drive measurable outcomes. With her expertise in People & Organizational Performance Practices, she enables national and global stakeholders to implement scalable solutions, fostering population-level mental health impact. As a passionate advocate for democratizing mental health care, Cara supports Vibrant’s mission and strategy, helping build a society where emotional wellness is accessible for all.
McNulty’s career trajectory demonstrates her deep commitment to overcoming mental health barriers. Prior to joining Vibrant, Cara served as the President of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being at CVS Health, North American Leader of Wellbeing for Willis Towers Watson, and lead Population Health and Team Member Wellness at Target. In addition to these roles, Cara has earned national recognition for spearheading Minnesota’s groundbreaking population health care legislation—one of the country’s largest health initiative financial investments.
Cara holds a doctorate in public administration from Hamline University, a Master of Science in applied health science from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science in community health education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Kaitlin Stephens is the Vice President of Global Benefits & Enterprise Health at IBM, where she leads the strategy and execution of benefits and enterprise health programs for IBMers around the world.
Before joining IBM, she spent several years as a health and benefits consultant at Mercer in Washington, D.C., advising large organizations on innovative benefits strategies. Since joining IBM over four years ago, Kaitlin has been dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of employees and their families, finding purpose in making a positive impact every day.
Outside of work, Kaitlin is a proud mother to a one-year-old son and enjoys spending quality time with her family and two hound dogs.
Cassandra Pratt is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Progyny, where she brings her expertise in leading human resources, talent acquisition, learning and development and employee experience at growth stage companies to the company. Prior to joining Progyny, Cass was Director of Talent at SignPost and TravelClick, a global provider of innovative, cloud-based and data-driven solutions for hotels.

10.15 - 10:45: From Mandate to Margin: How Policy Rollbacks Are Reshaping Employer Responsibility

Join us for a refreshment break, meet fellow attendees and refuel for the rest of the morning.

10:45 - 11:15: Refreshment Break

11.15 - 11:45: The Bottom Line: Tackling the Economic Impact of Health Inequality

What’s the cost of overlooking women’s health? According to a 2024 report by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, closing the women’s health gap could add a staggering $1 trillion to the global economy by 2040 -- including $300 billion in the U.S. alone. In this eye-opening session, McKinsey Senior Partner & McKinsey Health Institute Global Leader Lucy Pérez, a lead author of the research, will unpack the economic and workforce consequences of health inequities and present latest findings, including a practical blueprint for action.
She will also explore the findings of recent research from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the McKinsey Health Institute shedding light on the Black maternal health gap in the U.S. -- quantifying its impact on Black mothers and babies, and shedding light on the opportunities to enable healthier lives, communities, and economies.
From workplace approaches to clinical innovation and care delivery models, this session will highlight what it takes to move from awareness to impact, and why business leaders can’t afford to stay on the sidelines.
Lucy is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Boston office. Lucy has 15+ years of experience advising CEOs and top teams at leading pharma, biotech and life sciences companies globally on growth strategy, innovation, sustainability, and organizational transformation. Lucy is the Global Leader of the McKinsey Health Institute and a leader in our Life Sciences and Healthcare practices. Lucy is a Board member of MassBio, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Aspen Institute Latinos in Society program.

Around the world, women’s increasing economic power is reshaping markets, labor forces, and corporate priorities. As of 2024, women control an estimated $31.8 trillion (Nielsen IQ) in global consumer spending and influence close to 85% of all purchase decisions (TechCrunch 2024)—yet gender gaps in pay, leadership, and financial access remain significant barriers to fully realizing this potential. At the same time, women-founded businesses represent one of the fastest-growing segments of entrepreneurship, with women-owned businesses in the U.S. growing 114% over the past two decades—a rate more than double the national average.
This session will explore how women’s rising economic influence is transforming industries and why employers, investors, and policymakers must take note. We’ll examine the intersection of women’s health, financial equity, and workforce participation—and why closing gender gaps is not just a social imperative, but a strategic one for future growth.
Tamara is a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Mercer. She has more than 25 years of investment management experience and is a leader in values-aligned investing for institutional portfolios.
Tamara was previously a Managing Director at Agility, where she led the Mission-Aligned Investment Practice and was a member of the Investment Committee. Before joining Agility, she was Head of Private Markets Research for Russell Investments and a portfolio manager for a Europe-focused impact investing mandate. She began her career in institutional real assets investing.
Tamara serves as Board member and Co-Chair of the Investment Committee for the David Rockefeller Fund and is Board President for the Clara Lionel Foundation. Tamara is also a Board and Finance Committee member for the Public Welfare Foundation. Tamara was previously on the Board and Audit Committee of Mainstream Renewable Power Africa Holdings (MRPAH), a private Pan-African renewables venture. Tamara was previously the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN).
Tamara holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College and a master’s degree in real estate development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a Toigo Fellow.
Geeta Kapadia is the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Fordham University, where she manages an endowment of $1 billion in assets and oversees all aspects of portfolio management. She joined Fordham in August 2022, following her role as Associate Treasurer of Investments at Yale New Haven Health System, where she led a team responsible for managing over $5 billion in assets. Before her tenure at Yale New Haven, which began in 2009, Geeta worked as a senior consultant at Mercer in London and Edinburgh. She also served as the head of marketing at Capital Metrics in Pune, India. Geeta earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science in Financial Markets from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a CFA charterholder and currently serves as the board president of Chester County Family Academy, as well as a board member of the FINRA Investor Issues Committee.

11:45 - 12:10: The Rise of Women Led Economies: Is Your Organization Ready?

12:10 - 12:30: Lunch

Join us for lunch to recharge and connect with fellow attendees.

12:30-1.30: Lunch Panel - Rewriting Midlife: A Conversation with the Trailblazers Changing the Narrative

Join us for lunch and an inspiring, thought-provoking discussion on the realities of menopause and midlife. The “Midlife Voices” conversation will bring together leading thinkers and creators across books, media, and culture, including Dr. Sharon Malone (Grown Women Talk), Dr. Heather Hirsch (The Perimenopause Survival Guide), Naomi Watts (Actress and Author) and Abby Epstein (Director) who are reshaping how we talk about this life stage.
Facilitated by Pilar Guzmán of Oprah Daily, the discussion will explore the personal motivations behind their work, the lessons learned through storytelling in different mediums, and the insights they offer to women navigating this transformative phase of life. Whether you're seeking knowledge, camaraderie, or empowerment, this session promises to be an engaging deep dive into midlife with voices who are shaping the conversation from many vantage points.
Pilar Guzmán is the editorial director of O Magazine + Oprah Daily, where she oversees content, strategy, and community across the brand’s platforms. A media industry leader, editor, writer, author, speaker, and “brand whisperer”, Pilar has built and transformed some of America’s most iconic—and influential—lifestyle brands throughout her prolific career.

From 2013 to 2019, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Condé Nast Traveler, where she re-imagined the brand for the digital age, embracing the "Experience Economy” and turning it into the global tastemaker’s bible. Her leadership earned the magazine numerous awards, including a National Magazine Award, and recognition as Advertising Age’s Editor of the Year. Prior to that, she was Editor-in-Chief of Martha Stewart Living, where she modernized the brand and launched the influential American Made event, connecting millennial makers with new audiences.

Earlier in her career, Pilar founded parenting magazine Cookie, which elevated the conversation around modern family life and catalyzed the rise of the parenting blogosphere, earning her a place on Crain’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list. She began her editorial journey with Real Simple, Fodor’s Travel Guides, and ONE Magazine.

Just before joining Oprah, she co-founded The Swell, a venture-backed membership platform for Gen X that reimagined midlife through community, expert-led workshops, and digital content. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her two sons and husband, Christ Mitchell, with whom she wrote bestselling home décor book Patina Modern. A sequel, The Forever Home, is slated for Fall 2025.
Dr. Sharon Malone is a nationally recognized expert in women’s health, the Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women’s Health, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy.
For nearly three decades, Dr. Malone served as a board-certified OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner in one of Washington, D.C.’s most esteemed medical practices. Now fully dedicated to advocacy, education, and expanding access to menopause care, she is helping reshape the healthcare landscape for midlife women through her work with Alloy Health, a digital health company committed to evidence-based solutions for women in perimenopause and menopause.
Dr. Malone’s thought leadership has gained national attention through high-profile media appearances on The Michelle Obama Podcast, Oprah Winfrey’s The Life You Want, CBS Sunday Morning, and the Today Show. She was a featured keynote speaker at the 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting and her op-ed in The Washington Post, “America Lost Its Way on Menopause Research,” sparked a national movement to increase funding and policy reform in women’s midlife health.
Named to the 2024 Forbes 50 Over 50 list and honored with the Health Award by The Black Women’s Agenda, Dr. Malone has spent her career advocating for reproductive rights, reducing teen pregnancy, and addressing racial disparities in healthcare. A proud sister of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,, a sisterhood rooted in public service, social action, and community leadership. She is a charter member of the Xi Tau Chapter (Cambridge, MA), which recently celebrated its 45th anniversary.
She brings a deeply personal lens to her work. Raised in Mobile, Alabama, as the youngest of eight children during the tail end of the Jim Crow era, Dr. Malone witnessed firsthand the consequences of systemic inequities in healthcare. Her mother’s late-stage colon cancer diagnosis, despite living near two hospitals, ignited Dr. Malone’s lifelong dedication to proactive, preventive care and health equity.
A graduate of Harvard University (cum laude in Psychology and Social Relations) and Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Malone completed her residency at The George Washington University. She is certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The Menopause Society. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Malone is an avid reader, music lover, and amateur genealogist. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. They are the proud parents of three children: Maya, Brooke, and Eric III.
Dr. Heather Hirsch, MD, MS, MSCP, is a board-certified internist, entrepreneur, educator, and one of the nation's leading experts in women's midlife health. She is the Founder and CEO of The Collaborative, a telemedicine practice delivering personalized, evidence-based care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. She is also the founder of The Heather Hirsch Academy, an educational platform that trains healthcare professionals around the globe in midlife women's health.
Dr. Hirsch completed her internal medicine residency at Case Western Reserve University and advanced fellowship training in women's health at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2020, she established the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital and served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She also recently co-founded a technology company to transform access to midlife care for millions of women.
She is the bestselling author of The Perimenopause Survival Guide and Unlock Your Menopause Type. She is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Through her clinical practice, educational content, podcast, and national speaking engagements, Dr. Hirsch is dedicated to redefining menopause care and empowering women with the tools they need to thrive in midlife and beyond.
Award-Winning Actor, Producer, Activist, and Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Stripes. and Co-Chair, Menopause Mandate US
ABBY EPSTEIN is an Emmy Award-winning and Gracie Allen Award-winning director whose documentary "The Business of Being Born," co-produced with Ricki Lake, revolutionized the conversation around American childbirth practices. Her follow-up film, "The Business of Birth Control," explores the side effects of hormonal contraception and alternatives to the pill.
As Resident Director of "RENT" on Broadway, Abby staged the National Tour and international premieres in Mexico City and Barcelona. For "The Vagina Monologues" Off-Broadway, she directed over 200 actresses across productions in New York, Toronto, and Mexico City.
This international work led to her Emmy Award-winning documentary, "Until the Violence Stops," chronicling the global impact of V-Day, a movement to end violence against women and girls. Her documentary "Weed the People" (Netflix) has raised crucial awareness about medicinal cannabis benefits.
Currently, Abby is collaborating with actress Constance Zimmer on "The Midlife Monologues," a play, and "Her Second Act," a documentary. As a certified Midlife Doula and perimenopause coach, (abbyepstein.com) she continues her career's focus on amplifying women's untold stories.

What does it really take to reach the top - and stay there - as a woman in business? In this candid conversation with powerhouse leaders, we’ll go beyond résumés to unpack what it means to lead while female at the highest levels of an organization.
Panelists will reflect on the personal and professional strategies that helped them rise. And the unspoken expectations, isolation, and resistance they still had to navigate after getting the title. From building credibility and commanding a room, to challenging the myth of meritocracy and being more than a token presence at the table, this session will offer hard-won lessons on power, purpose, and leading with authenticity when the playbook wasn’t written with you in mind.
Carrie is the Chief People Officer at Covera Health, an AI company with a focus on improving patient outcomes in Radiology.
Carrie has 20+ years of experience in global HR, specializing in scaling high-growth technology companies. She has a proven track record of building and leading teams that drive business success in high-performing innovative cultures such as Brightcove and Circle. Her expertise extends across AI, digital health, fintech, and video streaming industries.
Carrie is a life long Bostonian and active member of the Boston tech and philanthropic community. She has recently launched her own start-up, BarRaiseHers, which is focused on women-helping-women with career development and opportunities. She is a board member of the House of Visionaries - a People/Talent community with chapters in the UK and US, and a committee member for Rodman for Kids - an organization that supports education, health, social, and creative development for children in the Greater Boston Area.
Janna Mullaney is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare operations and practice management, with more than two decades of experience driving transformation in the eye care industry. Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer for Eyecare Services Partners, Janna oversees strategic growth, operational performance, and leadership development across one of the largest integrated ophthalmology platforms in the country.

Janna’s career is defined by her ability to turn vision into action. From her early days managing a single practice to now leading across dozens of markets, she has consistently built strong teams, optimized systems, and elevated standards. Her work has led to measurable gains in access, efficiency, and patient satisfaction—while mentoring a generation of emerging leaders along the way.

In 2015, Janna was named COO of the Year by SmartCEO, a recognition of her bold leadership and measurable results. She later served as President of the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) in 2019 and was inducted as a Fellow (FASOA) in 2024—the organization’s highest professional honor. She also completed the Women in Leadership program at Cornell University, deepening her commitment to purposeful, inclusive leadership.

As a Certified Ophthalmic Executive, Janna is widely respected for her calm authority, high expectations, and unwavering belief in the power of leadership done right. She is a sought-after speaker and regularly presents on leadership development, team culture, and organizational transformation. Whether leading a turnaround, guiding an executive team, or speaking from the stage, Janna is driven by one mission: to develop leaders who build people up, communicate with clarity, and drive results that matter. She believes the best leaders are those who remain approachable, honest, and committed to helping others grow—and she works every day to live that example.
Janet Foutty is a nationally recognized technology and business leader who spent 33 years at Deloitte, culminating her career as CEO of Deloitte Consulting and Executive Chair of Deloitte US. During her tenure, she led the firm through significant transformation fueled by technology, talent, and purpose.
A best-selling author on women’s leadership, Janet continues to advise organizations at the intersection of innovation and impact. While she remains active in the technology space, her primary focus today is advancing women’s health - a mission she pursues across venture capital, nonprofit leadership, public policy, and academia.
She recently completed a prestigious leadership fellowship at the University of Chicago and serves as a trusted advisor to mission-driven companies and funds committed to building a more equitable future.
Colleen Foster is a seasoned executive and former partner at Goldman Sachs, with a 30-year track record of building businesses, driving transformation, and delivering strategic value across industries. She is currently a General Partner of Amboy Street Ventures, an early-stage venture firm investing in women's and sexual health solutions for all genders. At Amboy Street, she leads strategic partnerships with limited partners, founders, and investors, and oversees portfolio strategy, value creation, and brand positioning.
A thought leader in emerging health markets, Colleen co-authored the firm's "Ghost Market" report—an analysis of the $360 billion care gap in women's and sexual health—which was featured in Fortune and Forbes. Recently, Forbes recognized Colleen's accomplishments on their 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 list.
Previously, Colleen spent over two decades at Goldman Sachs as the partner who led the $1B+ global commodities business across energy, power, and metals, advising institutional investors and Fortune 500 CEOs on risk management and capital strategy.
Colleen's board experience includes serving as Treasurer of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Chair of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, where she helped modernize financial operations. She currently serves on the boards of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and StoryCorps, where she plays a key role on the finance and investment committees, guiding long-term sustainability and strategic stewardship.
Ms. Foster holds an M.S. from Illinois Institute of Technology and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

1.30 - 2:15 : The View From the Top: Lessons on Leading as a Woman

2.15 - 3.00: When AI Meets HR: Accountability, Equity and the Future of Work

As AI rapidly reshapes the workplace, HR leaders have a critical role to play in ensuring these technologies are designed with people and equity at the center. This session explores how HR insights can and must inform the development and deployment of AI tools to support, not sideline, diverse talent. From hiring algorithms to performance platforms, we’ll examine the risks of bias, the opportunities for inclusion, and the imperative to embed responsible, human-centered principles into every stage of product design and implementation. Because in the race to innovate, no group should be left behind.
Caroline Hyde hosts Bloomberg Television’s flagship daily technology show from New York. She has also served as anchor of “The Close” and the network’s chief European correspondent.
Hyde joined Bloomberg in 2008 to cover the European debt markets for Bloomberg News as a corporate finance reporter, focusing on company loans and bonds as well as sovereign debt.
Prior to joining Bloomberg, Hyde worked in public relations for London’s Moorgate Group. She holds an MA (Oxon) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University.
Dr. Anna Tavis is Clinical Professor and Chair of the Human Capital Management Department
at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. She is the Director of NYU Coaching Innovation Lab and the host of NYU Coaching & Tech Summit. Dr. Tavis has been named to Thinkers50 Radar in 2020 and to top 100 Global Influencers in People Analytics in 2023, 2024, 2025. Dr. Tavis is the co-author of Humans at Work. The art and practice of creating the hybrid workplace. (Kogan Page, 2022) and The Digital Coaching Revolution (Kogan Page, 2024).

Prior to joining the NYU faculty, Dr. Tavis navigated a diverse global career in business, consulting and academia. In business, Dr. Tavis was the Head of Motorola’s EMEA OD function based in London, Nokia’s Global Head of Talent Management based in Helsinki, United Technologies Corporation’s Chief Learning Officer, and the Global Head of Talent and Organizational Development with AIG Investments. In academia, Dr. Tavis was on the faculty at Columbia University, Williams College, and Fairfield University.

Two of Dr. Tavis’ Harvard Business Review articles in collaboration with Dr. Peter Cappelli : “HR Goes Agile” (2018) and “The Performance Management Revolution” (2016) were published in HBR’s “Must Reads” (2016 & 2018), and “Definitive Management Ideas of the Year” (2016 and 2018) and in “Agile: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review” (2020).

Dr. Tavis is a frequent presenter at international conferences on the topics of Future of Work; People Analytics and Technology; Employee Experience; and Intelligent Automation in the Workplace. She is a Senior Fellow with the Conference Board and is the Academic in Residence with Executive Networks. She is the former Executive Editor of People+Strategy Journal, a publication of SHRM’s Executive Network and she is currently an Associate Editor of Workforce Solutions Review, a publication of the International Association for Human Resource Information Management and The Journal of Total Rewards, a publication of WorldatWork.
Sarah Franklin is the Chief Executive Officer of Lattice. She brings 25+ years of experience leading and scaling companies in tech and has a unique blend of technical knowledge, business acumen, and marketing expertise. Prior to joining Lattice, she spent over 15 years at Salesforce in a variety of executive leadership roles including President Advisory Board, Chief Marketing Officer, EVP Platform and Trailhead. Before Salesforce, she worked at a variety of companies ranging from scaled businesses to scrappy startups. She holds a dual degree in chemical engineering and biochemistry from Virginia Tech and has been awarded many accolades including Forbes’ Most Influential CMO, “CMO to Watch” by Business Insider, and recipient of the Brand Genius Award from Adweek.

3:00 - 3:45: Strategic Power & Influence: Building Authority When the Playing Field Isn't Level

Today’s program will make one thing clear: creating equitable workplaces requires both systems change and individual strategy. This practical, hands-on workshop is designed to help you take the insights from the Summit and turn them into action. You’ll explore the seven types of power available at any level of an organization and learn how to apply influence techniques that work across varied playing fields. From building unshakable credibility to navigating bias and expanding your network of influence, you’ll walk away with concrete tools and a personalized plan to help ensure your voice is heard, your contributions are recognized, and your impact is amplified.
Kacy Fleming is an award-winning workplace well-being strategist and women's health advocate. She spent over twenty years in biopharmaceuticals learning the importance of health education and community support as well as the criticality of creating access to medications. Despite this knowledge, when perimenopause symptoms hit, Kacy fell victim to Google Search, and knew there had to be a better way to learn about the menopausal transition. That is why she created The Fuchsia Tent.
In addition to being the CEO and founder of The Fuchsia Tent, Kacy runs a well-being consultancy where she works alongside organizations to ensure sustainable business growth along with market leadership in talent retention, and attraction. She has built and executed well-being strategies and solutions from the ground up, based on a multidisciplinary approach of storytelling, deep listening, and evidence-based organizational design practices.
She is a published author, a TEDx speaker, and a LinkedIn Top Voice for public speaking. Kacy does frequent keynotes for global employers, guest lectures and UMass Amherst, and has appeared on numerous global podcasts talking about workplace well-being and menopause. She has authored articles on hot topics in the workplace ranging from menopause and mid-career transitions to flexible work, compassionate leadership, and the keys to employee engagement. Her work has been featured by Business Insider, Flow Space Thrive Global, HR Grapevine, Wellbeing Designers, Wellbeing at Work, etc...
Kacy lives in Massachusetts with her partner, Mark and her two chihuahuas, Otto and Finn.

Naomi Kerbel is an award-winning communications leader and advocate for gender equality in the workplace. As Director of Communications at SEC Newgate, she specializes in storytelling, speaker platforming, and thought leadership, helping organizations amplify their impact. Naomi has worked with global brands and changemakers to shape narratives around sustainability, diversity, and innovation. She is passionate about creating spaces for dialogue and empowering women to thrive in their careers.
Kristy Kade is an accomplished advocate, movement builder and executive leader. Across her 20-year career championing women’s rights across spheres, she has successfully developed and implemented policy and social change strategies across six continents. Serving as Director of Policy and Advocacy at both Pathfinder International and PATH, and CEO of White Ribbon Alliance Global, Kristy has a proven track record of leading high-impact teams, diversifying portfolios, and shaping every aspect of programs and companies—from inception to mindful closure. As a collaborative leader of teams, departments, and organizations—both large and small—Krisy has transformed behaviors, processes, and structures to make them better places to work for women, and ultimately better at what they do. In 2025, Kristy launched KKCC to help other organizations and leaders enhance their culture and impact, while simultaneously pursuing advanced studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University. People spend most of their time at work. We remake work, we remake the world.

3:45 - 5:00: Closing Remarks and Cocktail Reception

Join us as we bring the Summit to a close and enjoy networking drinks with speakers and attendees.

2026 Agenda

2026 is the year to redesign work for the realities of modern life.