HOW Forum 2024 Women Lead Change

She is the CEO of Arsayian Transform Coaching & Consulting and the Founder of Ater Tumti, a holistic resort in Costa Rica www.atertumticostarica.com . She was a successful global sales leader at LinkedIn, inspiring her teams to dream big and achieve exceptional results. She was also a successful sales executive at Gartner and business leader at Bloomberg serving Fortune 100 companies around the world.

Veronica’s purpose to empower others is not just a noble aspiration; it is a lived reality that shines through her own life story.  Having grown up in Ecuador with a single mother who died when Veronica was nine years old, Veronica is no stranger to deep challenges from an early age. In her teenage years, she moved to the United States with her father and shortly after ended up in a foster home. Despite these challenges, Veronica graduated from High School with honors and then went on to graduate from Brigham Young University learning four languages and did an Executive MBA at Cornell University being nominated as the best MBA in 2015.

Her life journey is nothing short of inspiring as you can read in her Memoir, “140 Miles of Life- A Remarkable Journey to Self-Acceptance and Love.” Veronica’s remarkable journey serves as a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to personal growth and empowerment. She chose to rise above her circumstances and transform her challenges into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. By sharing her experiences, Veronica not only inspires others to embrace their own journeys but also empowers them to strive for their highest potential.

Veronica holds a B.A. in French from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, where she was honored as “The 2015 Best Executive EMBA.” She also graduated from  the Inner M.B.A. (Conscious Leadership Program).  Find more information about her at www.veronicacarrera.com

Paula’s influence extends beyond the boardroom, as a sought-after speaker and recipient of numerous awards, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the industry. Despite her professional success, Paula remains deeply rooted in her community, actively contributing to women’s empowerment, financial literacy, environmental sustainability, and social justice. She is not just a senior executive but a visionary leader, passionate advocate, and inspiring role model, inviting others to follow in her footsteps and strive for greatness.

In 2020, she moved to Singapore, where, building on her Silicon Valley roots, Maaike founded Epic Angels, now the world’s largest female investor network focusing on APAC innovation.

Today based in NYC, Maaike is on a mission to mobilize and empower female accredited investors, aiming to move billions and create significant change. She wears multiple hats as a Fractional CFO, Venture Partner for Family Offices, Board Member, and Professor at top universities. 

Her drive for change is infectious. Maaike doesn’t just crunch numbers—she uses them to drive game-changing results in the investment world and beyond.

Tsolmon is the founder and managing partner of Jade Ventures, a global advisory and investment firm working on sustainable solutions to world’s complex challenges such as gender equality, climate change, access to finance and healthcare. As a limited partner, she invested in 20 companies in Founder Institute’s portfolio and is an active investor in pre-seed startups in Europe and the U.S. Tsolmon serves on the advisory board of the North Female Founder Collective, Visa Foundation/Village Capital’s Greentech Europe Program and Ventures Thrive deep tech accelerator funded by the European Innovation Council. She sits on the board of EVE, AI enabled cleantech company, and serves as an advisor to many startups in the ecosystem.

As a development economist, she managed north of $350 million U.S. government funded economic growth and investment projects supporting foreign direct investment, macroeconomic growth, job creation and small and medium enterprise revenue generation and global scale/growth. Notably, she worked on the winning proposal team for President Obama’s $9 billion global supply chain project in 20+ countries, and later managed project activities in Africa. She has a Distinction from Oxford University for her MBA, and a dual Economics and International Relations degree from American University for her Bachelor’s. She also holds master’s certifications from Yale School of Management and The George Washington University School of Business.

She serves on the Board of the Personalized Medicine Coalition and on the Memory Screening Advisory Board of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. She is Past President of the International Society for Quality of Life Research, a professional society devoted to patient-centered health outcomes measurement. Prior to joining WHAM she served as Senior Vice President for Research with the New York Academy of Medicine. She completed her Health and Aging Policy Fellowship at the National Institute on Aging, through the Congressional Fellowship Program, American Political Science Association.

Dr. Frank founded and led the Evaluation & Analysis Program at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), establishing a research program to study stakeholder engagement, along with survey research and portfolio analysis functions. She has also led a global scientific team as Executive Director, Center for Health Outcomes Research, MEDTAP International/United BioSource Corporation, responsible for scientific and financial performance of 70+ scientific staff worldwide. She founded and served as Principal Investigator of the Cognition Initiative with the Critical Path Institute Patient-Reported Outcome Consortium. She has held research and teaching positions with the RAND Corporation, the National Institute on Aging, the Georgetown University Department of Psychiatry, and Medimmune LLC/AstraZeneca. She completed postdoctoral training in geriatric mental health services research with the VA Health Services Research & Development program. Her PhD is in Human Development and Gerontology from the Pennsylvania State University and her MA is in Biopsychology from the Johns Hopkins University.

Most recently, Dr. Garner was Chief Scientific Officer of Ferring Pharmaceuticals US, a mid-size global company focused on reproductive and maternal health, microbiome and gastrointestinal therapeutics, and uro-oncology. From 2019-2022, she was Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of ObsEva, a company focused on addressing unmet needs in women’s health. Prior to that, she was CMO of Agile Therapeutics, where she led the company’s clinical development, regulatory, and medical affairs strategies, including designing and leading the Phase 3 SECURE trial which led to FDA approval of the Twirla contraceptive patch. Dr. Garner has also held leadership roles at Myriad Genetics, Abbott Laboratories, and at Merck Research Labs where she was a key contributor on the Gardasil and Gardasil9 vaccines.

Dr. Garner is currently on the Boards of Directors of Kezar Life Sciences (KZR), which develops novel therapies for autoimmune diseases, Sermonix Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on targeted breast cancer therapies, and is Chair of the Board of NUA Surgical, a start-up company dedicated to creating innovative surgical solutions in obstetrics and gynecology. She is also the Immediate Past President of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), a professional organization whose mission is to advance women physicians, advocate for equity, and ensure excellence in healthcare.

Beth received joint M.D. and M.P.H. degrees from Harvard Medical and Public Health Schools, trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s (BWH)/Massachusetts General Hospitals, and completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at BWH/Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Prior to transitioning into industry in 2007, she was Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, where she focused on academic clinical practice in gynecologic oncology, basic science ovarian cancer research, and teaching and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellowship trainees.

Elizabeth has extensive experience as a media spokesperson and is a frequent panelist and speaker on a range of topics including innovation and investment in women’s health, women’s leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and diversity in clinical trials. She is an author on close to 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers. Garner is a 2019 and 2023 awardee of the PharmaVoice 100 Most Inspiring Individuals in the life sciences industry and was the 2022 recipient of the Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women’s Association.

She chose the name PONO for her jewelry collection with a purpose. PONO is the Hawaiian word for righteousness; quality; goodness; virtuousness; in perfect order. This informs all of Joan’s creations. 

Using fine Italian resins as the main medium, the collection is inspired by Mother Nature, the breathtaking exoticism of Hawaii, the eclectic creativity and diversity of New York City, and the amazing tradition of Italian artistry and craftsmanship. All of PONO is made in Italy.

The PONO collection is sophisticated and cool with a sense of luxury. Joan’s hypersensitive sense of color is an integral part of every PONO creation.

PONO is honored and delighted to offer timeless pieces that remain eminently creative, conscious and collectible.

The Office of Women’s Health advanced its scientific efforts, under her direction, to produce more than 350 research papers and journal articles to facilitate FDA’s regulatory decision-making and promote a better understanding of sex differences and health conditions unique to women. Her tenure produced the first FDA Women’s’ Health Research Roadmap, outlining seven priority areas for new or enhanced research including biomarkers, nanotechnology, cardiovascular disease, and post market surveillance as well as a framework to assess its impact. Her colleagues applaud her ability to set a vision and guide the concept to reality. One FDA Commissioner stated, “She is elegant…not just in style but in character, confidence and compassion.”

Ms. Henderson’s expertise in the development of public-private partnerships and culturally appropriate consumer engagement strategies led to the Women’s Health Take Time To Care Program, which has reached over 120 million people with FDA consumer information in 18 languages, and received awards from more than 96 national organizations. Her easy to read, science-based materials have been chronicled in Dear Abby, Parade Magazine, Hints from Heloise, and the IRS, as well as sponsored by external groups including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, American Diabetes Association, Ford Motor Company, American Medical Association, and even Las Vegas casinos. Her novel efforts supported a one-stop Pregnancy Exposure Registries website to gather information about how prescription drugs or vaccines affect a pregnant woman and her fetus. In addition, she recently instructed her staff to expand the Science of Sex and Gender on-line accredited courses with the NIH/Office of Research on Women’s Health and to conduct FDA’s first “Scientific Conference: Opioid and Nicotine Use, Dependence, and Recovery: Influences of Sex and Gender” to address this national epidemic.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Dr. Estelle Ramey Award for Women’s Health Leadership from Society for Women’s Health Research; “HerMANA” Award for innovative outreach to Hispanic women, and Pinnacle Award for exceptional leadership in medication use for patients and caregivers. The first non-pharmacist to receive the prestigious Jacob Miller Award from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, she was also one of five Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) finalists from throughout the U.S. federal government. And as Chair of the national board of the YWCA USA, she led the U.S. delegation at the YWCA World Council quadrennial meeting in Bangkok, Thailand to focus on women’s issues.

Prior to her FDA career, Ms. Henderson served as the Director of Evaluation for the Interagency Council on the Homeless; Director of Placement for the National Health Service Corps; Chief of Analysis and Information for the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health; and Senior Advisor to the Director of the Women’s Bureau at the U.S.

Dr. Jenkins is a well-recognized expert in women’s health and sex and gender-based medicine and has served in a variety of national roles such as Program Chair of the 2015 and 2018 National Sex and Gender Health Professional Education Summits and co-Chair of the Reproduction Workgroup of NASA’s Decadal Review, and as a member of the USMLE Women’s Health National Board of Medical Examiners Writing Group, HRSA expert panel Advisories and NIH expert panels. She has been honored through numerous awards such as the American Medical Women’s Association Elizabeth Blackwell Award, the Women’s Health Congress Award for Public Policy and Advocacy in Women’s Health and recognized multiple times as a Texas SuperDoc. She has served as the Associate Dean of Women’s Affairs for Texas and has been faculty with the Johns Hopkins MEdPH program where she also filled the capacity of CAPStone Program Director.

Dr. Jenkins joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville as Dean from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas, where she was a Professor of Medicine and the founder of the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health, a biomedical research and health education institute spanning across five health professionals’ schools and six campuses. She also served as the Director of Medical and Scientific Initiatives for the FDA Office of Women’s Health, where she provided sex and gender scientific expertise within scientific programs. In addition to her medical degree from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, Dr. Jenkins holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Education in Health Professional (MEdPH).

Dr. Jenkins has delivered over 150 scientific and consumer presentations and co-authored numerous research publications, scientific commentaries, and textbooks including Eat Like a Woman and How Sex and Gender Impact Clinical Care: An Evidence Based Guide to Patient Care.

She is passionate about building diverse teams and supporting them with systems and a culture that inspires positive change, inclusivity, growth, and resilience. Her work combines strategic insight with a commitment to people-centric leadership, driving sustainable success and lasting impact.
 
Regina also dedicates time as a business coach for Empowered Women International’s Entrepreneur Training for Success (ETS) program, helping minority women entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Additionally, she mentors underserved adults through Streetwise Partners’ Bridge program, helping them advance their professional careers. Regina is an active member of senior executive organizations, including Chief, The Authentic Asian, COO Forum, and ACMP.

As a Founding Partner for Deloitte’s Health Equity Institute, Jen has set the strategy for our purpose driven agenda and investments and authored research around health disparities in the US and most recently, women’s health. Jen is passionate about partnering with health organizations through the next wave of disruption and reassembly, defining innovative and equitable business models, and the organization and workforce strategies that enable them.

She is an acclaimed speaker on the topics of Future of Health and Women’s Health nationally and has authored white papers, primary research & blogs on these topics.

Jen received her BA in Anthropology and Gender Studies from Amherst College, MPH in Population Health from the Mailman School of Public Health, and MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.

A lifelong New Yorker, Jen resides in Manhattan with her husband & three children – Olivia (21), Aidan (18) and Julian (14), and goldendoodle, Milo, together they focus on curtailing food insecurity in the city.

Patricia is Chief Operating Officer at Gift of College, Inc., author of Route 529: A Parent’s Guide to Saving for College and Career Training with 529 Plans, and in her favorite role of all, she is the proud mom of a debt-free grad named Ben.

Patricia’s close personal connection to the topic of higher education financing and her 20+ years of professional experience make her a trusted source for the media. She and her perspective have been featured in hundreds of news pieces in publications including Forbes, Fortune, Fox Business, Global Woman, Money, Newsweek, Parents, Real Simple, Success Magazine, The New York Times, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report, and she has appeared on CNBC, ABC News, Good Morning America, and on countless podcasts and radio and tv programs across the nation.

She is a firm believer in the critical role visibility plays in amplifying one’s reach and impact.

Gurjot was most recently the Global Head of Digital Marketing at CBRE, a $25B Fortune 500 commercial real estate services company. In this unique role, she launched 55 websites over 2 years and focused on building and activating global digital platforms to drive business impact. She is now finalizing her next role in digital, data and AI. Gurjot received her BA in Economics and MBA from the University of Chicago, and recently completed a course with MIT on Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation. 

At FTI Consulting, Maddie leads internal AI initiatives, supports the transformation of planning and performance functions, and builds business-critical insights through complex analytical applications.

Her work with organizations like Nestle, Source Code, Acella, WorldPay, and WISH.com has demonstrated her ability to deliver actionable insights through engineered solutions. During her time at Caterpillar, Maddie led financial reporting efforts and consolidated financial data for key business decisions, while at Textron, she drove operational efficiency through engineered solutions. Maddie’s work also includes evaluating investments and acquisitions, developing strategic financial models, and implementing advanced forecasting techniques. Her technical skills span Python, Power BI, and Alteryx, enabling her to design sophisticated financial models and engineered solutions.

Maddie has been instrumental in solving core business problems using AI, transforming finance organizations, and driving innovation. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Nanyang Technological University and an M.Eng. from the University of Louisville. Maddie is based in New York City and is committed to building cutting-edge solutions across the finance function.

Maddie is a StartOut board member and mentor, FTI PRIDE NYC co-lead, and a volunteer for queer venture capital organizations. She is also a member of Open Finance and OutLeadership, contributing to the advancement of LGBTQ+ representation in finance and business leadership.

In 2019, Meg won the Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyer Legal Intrapreneur of the year award and is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s First-Mover Fellowship program that focuses on the development of corporate social intrapreneurs.

As the Chief Business Development, Marketing and CSR Officer at Paul Hastings, Meg was responsible for strategy, growth and innovation in legal services. She oversaw business and client development programs, public relations, brand management, and communications that promoted the firm’s international reach and commitment to client service. She also led the Diversity & Inclusion and Corporate Responsibility efforts of the firm.

Before joining Paul Hastings, Meg was based in Europe for ten years. During that time, she was the Director of Marketing for the EMEIA region at Andersen. In addition, Meg held director positions in business development, marketing and export for a major French clothing manufacturer, the largest French shoe manufacturer, and an American venture capital firm.

Meg is an advisory council member for Child HELP Partnership, served on the steering committee for The Aspen Institute Socrates Program, and is a board member of the SUNY Sullivan Foundation.