Market Executive, Los Angeles Commercial Bank, Emerging Middle Market

Panel: Capital, Confidence & the Economic Road Ahead

Claudia Bodan is Market Executive, Los Angeles Commercial Bank, Emerging Middle Market, where she works with business owners and entrepreneurs to support growth through flexible, creative, and advisory banking solutions. With 27 years of experience in the banking industry, Claudia has dedicated her career to helping businesses access the financial insight, resources, and strategic guidance needed to grow with confidence.

A respected leader in the business and philanthropic communities, Claudia has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal, The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, the Department of Commerce, and the finance community for her leadership, impact, and commitment to expanding access to capital. She has held leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the National Latina Business Women’s Association Los Angeles Chapter, the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, USC Latino Alumni Association, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, LA Chamber of Commerce, NAWBO LA, HOPE, and Girl Scouts of America.

A native of Nicaragua who has called Los Angeles home since childhood, Claudia is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned her BA in Finance. She brings a powerful perspective on business growth, community leadership, access to capital, and the role financial institutions can play in supporting entrepreneurs and economic opportunity.

Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Oracle NetSuite Technology Partnerships, Alliances, and Ecosystem Growth Leader

Panel: Leading Through Disruption: AI, Technology & Business Transformation

Erin Brodie is a technology partnerships and alliances executive with more than 20 years of experience in the high-tech industry. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Oracle NetSuite, she leads work across alliance, private equity and venture capital, franchise, buying group, and association partnerships, helping build ecosystem programs that support growth, market expansion, and recurring revenue.

Throughout her career, Erin has built deep expertise in partner strategy, business development, solution marketing, program marketing, and go-to-market alignment. She has led NetSuite’s North America alliance organization, where her work has focused on strengthening partner engagement, improving win rates, expanding market share, and building high-performing ecosystems that help customers and partners grow.

A recognized leader in the technology channel, Erin is known for creating a winning culture, investing in people, and connecting sales, marketing, and partner organizations around shared business outcomes. She is also a proud co-founding member of NetSuite’s Women Who Mean Business group in Los Angeles, reflecting her commitment to advancing women in business and building communities that support leadership, visibility, and growth.

Senior Vice President, Sony
Technology, Infrastructure, and Enterprise Transformation Leader

Executive Introduction

David Buckholtz is a senior technology executive at Sony with deep experience leading enterprise technology, global infrastructure, digital transformation, and IT strategy across complex media and entertainment environments. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of Global IT Infrastructure at Sony, following a long tenure in senior technology leadership roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Throughout his career, David has helped guide large-scale technology transformation, including Sony Pictures Entertainment’s evolution from analog to digital and the introduction of more agile ways of working. Before joining Sony, he held technology leadership roles at GE and IBM Global Services, building expertise across enterprise architecture, strategic customer initiatives, application services, and technology planning. A respected voice on IT governance, infrastructure, and business-aligned technology strategy, David brings a practical perspective on how leaders can modernize systems, manage complexity, and turn technology into enterprise value.

Founder and CEO, Cadents Inc.
Technology Executive, Entrepreneur, and AI Infrastructure Leader

Panel: Leading Through Disruption: AI, Technology & Business Transformation

Julie Case is a seasoned technology executive, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Cadents Inc., an AI-native infrastructure risk intelligence company helping CIOs, CISOs, and IT teams manage technology lifecycle risk with greater speed, clarity, and scale. Her leadership background spans more than 25 years across high-growth SaaS, cloud, and enterprise technology environments, with executive experience at companies including Cisco, Genesys, Yodlee, and Responsys.

Throughout her career, Julie has built a strong track record in digital transformation, operational excellence, customer success, and scaling companies through major stages of growth, including helping three companies grow from startup to IPO. An active voice in women-in-leadership communities, including Women’s Business Collective, Women in Cloud, and C-Sweet, Julie brings a practical and candid perspective on reinvention, AI-driven innovation, founder leadership, and building technology companies in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Principal PM Manager, Microsoft 365
Global Community Engagement and Events, Customer Advocacy Group

Panel: Leading Through Disruption: AI, Technology & Business Transformation

Heather Cook is a Principal PM Manager for Global Community Engagement and Events within the Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group, where she leads programs, experiences, and community strategy that connect customers with Microsoft around the world. Her work sits at the intersection of customer engagement, event strategy, technology, storytelling, and human connection.

A former Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 Apps and Services, Heather brings more than 25 years of experience as a marketing executive, event producer, consultant, speaker, moderator, and founder of the impact consultancy Creative Maven. Throughout her career, she has produced thousands of events, campaigns, and experiences across the technology and entertainment industries.

Heather is also a writer and storyteller. She publishes Maven Musings, a twice-monthly business newsletter on LinkedIn, and Heddas Mix Tape, a culture-focused publication on Substack. Her Microsoft career journey is featured in The Women of Microsoft, and she will be featured in the forthcoming book Iconic Leadership. Based in Marina del Rey, California, Heather speaks globally on community, leadership, healthy workplaces, inclusion, and the power of human connection.

Speaker Coach, Author, and TEDx Speech Coach

Event Emcee

Mimi Donaldson is a speaker coach, author, and veteran keynote speaker whose work helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and business owners strengthen how they present themselves in the moments that matter most. For more than two decades, she trained Fortune 500 audiences, delivered keynotes and workshops, and shared the keynote platform with leaders and cultural figures including Colin Powell, Katie Couric, and Maya Angelou.

Today, Mimi coaches TED Talkers, keynote speakers, and business owners, helping them shape stronger messages, build confidence, and deliver presentations with clarity, presence, and impact. Since 2018, she has coached 30 speakers to the TEDx stage. She is also the author of Pitch Perfect: Speak to Grow Your Business in Seven Simple Steps, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in Education from Columbia University. With early human resources experience at The Walt Disney Company, Northrop Aircraft, and Rockwell International, Mimi brings a rare blend of communication expertise, business insight, humor, and practical coaching to every stage.

Chief Executive Officer of ReadyAI
AI Governance and Enterprise Technology Leader

Panel: Leading Through Disruption: AI, Technology & Business Transformation

Carol Eastman is a technology entrepreneur, governance leader, and CEO of ReadyAI, where she helps business leaders adopt AI securely, responsibly, and with greater strategic clarity. Her work focuses on making AI governance actionable for executives, particularly as organizations move from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption and face growing questions around security, compliance, privacy, accountability, and business value.

With a career spanning security, communications, and emerging technology, Carol brings a practical perspective on how companies can align innovation with responsible oversight. Through ReadyAI, she works with leaders to bring governance, clarity, and accountability to internal AI adoption, helping organizations move from AI ideas to measurable execution at scale. She brings timely insight into what boards, CEOs, and executive teams need to understand as AI transforms business operations, risk management, and leadership decision-making.

Chief Financial Officer, Los Angeles Football Club

Panel: Capital, Confidence & the Economic Road Ahead

Wendy Fletcher is a seasoned finance executive and CPA/CA who leads the finance team at Los Angeles Football Club. In her role, she works closely with LAFC’s COO, ownership, co-presidents, and senior leadership to establish financial goals across multiple lines of business and strengthen accountability across the organization.

With experience spanning financial strategy, revenue growth, expense management, and organizational planning, Wendy brings a practical perspective on how disciplined financial leadership supports long-term business performance. She also serves as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the LAFC Sports Foundation, which supports underserved Los Angeles youth through soccer, athletic access, education programs, and mentorship.

Chief Investment Officer, Avālia Capital Partners

Panel: Capital, Confidence & the Economic Road Ahead

Seatrice N. Foster is Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of Avālia Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm focused on identifying mispriced opportunities across distressed and transitional assets. With more than two decades of experience across commercial real estate finance, private credit, and brokerage, she leads firm strategy, capital deployment, portfolio construction, underwriting standards, acquisition strategy, and risk management.

Her background spans commercial loan origination and structuring, distressed and transitional asset evaluation, capital stack negotiation, lender workouts, and acquisition advisory across hospitality and other commercial asset classes. Known for a disciplined, risk-aware investment approach, Seatrice brings a powerful perspective on capital preservation, long-term value creation, and navigating complex real estate markets through changing economic cycles.

Co-Founder and Board Chair of Smash + Tess
Author, Speaker, and Former Financial Services CEO

Panel: Executive Edge, CEO Insight

Teresa Freeborn is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, board leader, and advocate for women’s advancement in business. With more than four decades of experience in financial services, including 16 years as CEO of a major financial institution, Teresa has built a career around leadership, growth, and helping organizations navigate change with clarity and purpose.

She is the Co-Founder and Board Chair of Smash + Tess, the women-owned fashion brand she helped launch with her daughter Ashley, and the author of Suits and Skirts: Game On!, a book focused on corporate power, gender parity, and the barriers women face in reaching senior leadership. A sought-after speaker and outspoken champion for women in the C-suite and boardroom, Teresa brings a candid, practical perspective on leadership, entrepreneurship, allyship, and building businesses where women can thrive.

CEO and Principal Analyst, Metrigy

Panel: Leading Through Disruption: AI, Technology & Business Transformation

Robin Gareiss is CEO and Principal Analyst at Metrigy, where she leads research product development, conducts primary research, and advises enterprises, technology providers, and carriers on the strategies and technologies shaping the future of business. Her work focuses on customer engagement, digital transformation, digital workplace strategy, contact centers, CRM, artificial intelligence, analytics, business case development, and cost and ROI modeling.

For more than 25 years, Robin has advised hundreds of senior IT executives, including leaders from Fortune 100 and Fortune 1000 organizations, helping them evaluate technology investments and understand how innovation can drive measurable business outcomes. A respected analyst, researcher, and speaker, Robin brings a data-driven perspective on how leaders can make smarter decisions, strengthen customer and employee experiences, and turn emerging technologies into practical business value.

Founder and CEO of MenoWell, Inc.
Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Author, and TEDx Speaker

Panel: Executive Edge, CEO Insight

Julie Gordon White is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling business author, TEDx speaker, and founder and CEO of MenoWell, Inc., the menopause wellness brand behind MenoWell Menopause Energy + Protein Bars, recognized as an Oprah Daily Best Menopause Product. Her work sits at the intersection of women’s health, entrepreneurship, reinvention, and helping women navigate midlife with more energy, confidence, and support.

Prior to founding MenoWell, Julie advised thousands of business owners as founder and CEO of BlueKey Mergers & Acquisitions and built programs to help women entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. She is also the author of EXIT! 12 Steps to Sell Your Business for the Price You Deserve and an advocate with organizations focused on menopause awareness and education. Through her work, Julie brings a dynamic perspective on leadership, business growth, women’s wellbeing, and building mission-driven companies that meet an urgent market need.

Senior Legal and Competition Policy Leader, Beacon Advisory Group

Panel: Women on Boards

Julie Goshorn is a senior legal leader with more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of competition law, technology, regulation, and strategic risk. Her background includes leadership in global litigation and competition at Visa, as well as prior service as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition.

With experience spanning government policy, private practice, and the technology sector, Julie brings a sophisticated perspective on antitrust, regulatory oversight, privacy, innovation, and the legal issues shaping fast-moving markets. She has also contributed to national and global competition law conversations, including moderating a merger guidelines panel at the USC Gould / Analysis Group Global Competition Law Thought Leadership Conference.

Chief Executive Officer of She Angel Investors
and Executive Producer of ‘Show Her the Money’

Morning Keynote

Catherine Gray is CEO/Founder of She Angel Investors and Executive Producer/Producer of the award winning movie Show Her the Money and Author of the book of the same name. She is a Venture Capitalist and the host of the popular Invest In Her Podcast, a Tedx Speaker and Co-Founder of the She Angels Foundation.

The movie, Show Her the Money, demystifies venture capital in an engaging, storytelling way- revealing how fascinating and important this asset class is with regard to building generational wealth, and impacting what products and services you will see in the future. The film was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the eleven best financial films of the decade. The movie features powerful women investors who invest in diverse women entrepreneurs with game changing innovations. The award-winning film just completed a 100-city worldwide grassroots tour of the film to encourage more women to invest in female-founded VC funds to move the needle on women getting less than 2% of venture capital.

President, Keiretsu Forum Southern California; CEO, Syndicated Resources

Panel: Capital, Confidence & the Economic Road Ahead

Connie Harrell is an investor, serial entrepreneur, and business leader whose career spans education, technology, telecommunications, publishing, marketing, private equity fundraising, and entrepreneurial growth. She serves as President of Keiretsu Forum Southern California, where she works with entrepreneurs, investors, and strategic partners to build meaningful relationships that support capital, deal flow, and business expansion.

As CEO of Syndicated Resources, Connie brings decades of real-world operating experience and an entrepreneurial perspective to the work of connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. Known for her belief that business moves at the speed of relationships, she has built her career around helping founders and investors create the trust, visibility, and strategic alignment needed to move opportunities forward.

A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs and innovation, Connie brings a practical and deeply human perspective to conversations about fundraising, investing, partnership development, and the role relationships play in building successful companies. Her work reflects a commitment to helping leaders access the resources, capital, and connections that can turn promising ideas into meaningful growth.

Founder & Principal, Shasta Advisory

Panel: Women on Boards

Carol Kim is a strategic operator and advisor with deep experience bridging business, policy, and execution across complex, regulated markets. As Founder and Principal of Shasta Advisory LLC, she serves as a fractional Chief Strategy Officer to founders, executives, and organizations across healthcare, government, and social impact, with current work focused on AI governance for local government.

Carol previously held VP-level leadership at Health Net, a $7 billion managed care company now part of Centene, where she led government affairs, stakeholder strategy, corporate philanthropy, and impact investing, managing a $170 million strategic portfolio and deploying more than $40 million in capital to advance telehealth services, workforce development, and health equity across California.

Earlier in her career, Carol served as Health Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and held senior advisory roles with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Today, she serves as Finance and Investment Committee Chair at the California Insurance Guarantee Association, where she provides governance oversight of a $4 billion investment portfolio, and is active in advancing board leadership through 50/50 Women on Boards-Bay Area.

Founder of worksmart Advantage
Speaker, Author, and Creative Leadership Strategist

Featured Presenter

Van Lai-DuMone is the founder of worksmart Advantage, a leadership and team development consultancy that helps organizations use curiosity, creativity, and experiential learning to strengthen culture, collaboration, and performance. Through her Creative Integration methodology, Van designs programs that help teams move beyond conventional thinking, unlock new ideas, and approach business challenges with more imagination and courage.

With more than 20 years of corporate and startup experience, Van has designed and delivered learning and development programs for clients including Google and LinkedIn. She is a TEDx speaker and the author of What if Pigs Can Fly?, a book inspired by curiosity, possibility, and her mother’s story as one of the first licensed Vietnamese manicurists in the United States. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with an MBA from Pepperdine University, Van brings a powerful perspective on creative leadership, innovation, resilience, and helping people see possibility where others see limits.

Senior Manager, Transaction Advisory Services, CohnReznick

Panel: Capital, Confidence & the Economic Road Ahead

McKayla Racie is a Senior Manager in CohnReznick’s Transaction Advisory Services practice, based in Los Angeles. She brings deep experience in M&A, leading buy- and sell-side due diligence engagements across industries and cross-border transactions.

Her work includes Quality of Earnings and Working Capital assessments, helping clients understand how these factors influence valuation, deal terms, and post-close performance. With expertise across technology consulting, business services, manufacturing, and consumer products, McKayla advises private equity firms, strategic buyers, and companies navigating complex financial and operational considerations.

With experience supporting transactions across a range of sizes and international markets, including the UK, EU, and China, McKayla brings a practical perspective on financial discipline, transaction readiness, and the strategic clarity leaders need to make confident decisions during pivotal moments of growth and change.

President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Affordable Housing Leader, Board Advisor, and Community Impact Executive

Panel: Executive Edge, CEO Insight

Erin Rank is the President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, where she has spent more than two decades leading one of the region’s most visible affordable housing organizations. Under her leadership, Habitat LA has expanded its work across affordable homeownership, critical home repairs, disaster recovery, volunteer engagement, and community revitalization, helping families across Greater Los Angeles build greater stability and long-term opportunity.

A respected leader in the housing and nonprofit sectors, Erin has held leadership roles with Habitat for Humanity International, served as Board Chair of Housing California, and was appointed to the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council. She is also a licensed REALTOR and Mortgage Loan Originator, bringing practical insight into housing access, financing, partnership development, and the systems that shape community investment.

Erin’s work has been recognized by organizations including Irish American Magazine and Pepperdine University, and she has helped build homes around the world while advancing Habitat LA’s mission locally. With deep experience in organizational growth, governance, housing strategy, and cross-sector collaboration, Erin brings a powerful perspective on leadership, accountability, community impact, and building systems that create measurable value.

Founder and CEO of Crux Football
Former Professional Footballer, FIFA Executive, and Sports Business Leader

Panel: Executive Edge, CEO Insight

Rebecca “Bex” Smith is a former professional footballer, Olympian, Champions League winner, FIFA executive, and founder and CEO of Crux Football, a European women’s football multi-club platform focused on scaling the women’s game. As a former captain of the New Zealand women’s national team, Bex has experienced football from the field, the boardroom, and the global business of sport.

Her career spans elite athletic performance, sports governance, commercial strategy, media, technology, and investment in women’s football. She previously held leadership roles at FIFA, including work across Women’s World Cup competitions and strategic planning in women’s football, and has worked with global brands, federations, confederations, media platforms, agencies, players, and emerging technology companies. Through Crux Football, Bex is building a player-first, commercially sustainable model designed to help women’s clubs achieve their full potential on and off the pitch.

With experience across international sport, governance, investment, media, and high-performance environments, Bex brings a powerful perspective on leadership, growth, equity, and building systems that create long-term value for women in sport and beyond.

Founder, Advanced Nutrition and Emotional Wellness, Clinical Psychologist, TEDx Speaker, and Author

Panel: Executive Edge, CEO Insight

Dr. Supatra Tovar is the founder of Advanced Nutrition and Emotional Wellness, a platform dedicated to helping individuals and organizations create healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable approaches to wellbeing. A licensed clinical psychologist, registered dietitian, certified fitness expert, TEDx speaker, and award-winning bestselling author, she brings a rare integrated perspective across psychology, nutrition, neuroscience, mindfulness, movement, and behavioral change. Her work is science-driven and practical, offering evidence-based tools that support emotional wellness, nervous system regulation, self-awareness, stress resilience, leadership capacity, and sustainable success.

Her signature work explores the relationship between achievement, perfectionism, self-worth, burnout, and joy. Drawing from psychological research, neuroscience, clinical experience, and personal stories, Dr. Tovar helps individuals understand how chronic striving and external validation can disconnect them from themselves, and how self-trust, inner safety, and embodied awareness can create the conditions for more authentic, resilient, and fulfilling leadership.

Founder of Ladies Get Paid
Author, Speaker, and Financial Empowerment Advocate

Evening Keynote

Claire Wasserman is the founder of Ladies Get Paid, a global community that champions the professional and financial advancement of women. Once described by Robin Roberts as “the career coach helping ladies get paid,” Claire has built her work around self-advocacy, negotiation, financial confidence, and helping women claim greater power in their careers and lives.

She is a bestselling author published by Simon & Schuster, a sought-after speaker, and a guest expert who has appeared on Good Morning America and been featured by The New York Times, among others. Claire has taught at world-class institutions and companies including NASA and Harvard Business School, and holds a Master’s Certificate in Financial Psychology and Behavioral Finance.

As an entrepreneur, Claire bootstrapped a seven-figure business and built a global community of more than 100,000 members. She has produced major conferences, hosted John Hancock’s inaugural podcast Friends Who Talk About Money, and collaborated with brands including Nike, Secret, and Indeed. Through her work, Claire helps women negotiate their worth, take bigger swings, and turn change into momentum for what comes next.

Co-Founder and CEO, Liquid Studios AI
Board Director, Operator, and Technology Executive

Panel: Women on Boards

Jeanine Wright is a seasoned board director, operator, entrepreneur, and technology executive with deep experience across AI, media, entertainment, ad tech, podcasting, corporate finance, and governance. She is Co-Founder and CEO of Liquid Studios AI, a company building AI-powered media and personality infrastructure, and serves as an independent director on the Board of GroundTruth.

Jeanine previously served as Global COO and General Manager of Wondery, Amazon’s podcast division, where she oversaw sales, operations, licensing, strategy, and global expansion. Prior to that, she was CFO and SVP of Strategy and Operations at AdsWizz, SiriusXM’s audio ad tech division. She also co-founded and helped scale Simplecast, guiding the company through growth and its acquisition by SiriusXM.

With a background spanning law, finance, operations, M&A, go-to-market strategy, and board leadership, Jeanine brings a rare combination of strategic, financial, legal, and operating expertise to conversations about growth, governance, risk, innovation, and measurable business impact.

CEO, GMJ Enterprises

Panel: Women on Boards

Georgia Zachary is an entrepreneur, executive leader, and community advocate with more than 27 years of experience at AT&T and over 25 years in real estate. As CEO of GMJ Enterprises and Co-Chair of C-Sweet’s Los Angeles Chapter, she brings extensive experience in business leadership, organizational development, and empowering women through mentorship and strategic connections.

Throughout her career at AT&T, Georgia held leadership roles across communications, project management, customer operations, and the Office of the President. She also served as President of Women of AT&T from 2009 to 2016, advancing professional development and leadership opportunities for women. A recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, she has supported numerous community organizations, including United Way, City of Hope, and the March of Dimes.

Georgia serves on the Board of Directors for Exposition Park and the California Science Center and has held leadership positions with City Club Los Angeles and the YMCA. She also founded Good Vibes Women’s Business Roundtable, connecting women entrepreneurs through collaboration, mentorship, and shared resources. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and advancing women in business and leadership.