The Los Angeles Conversation on Board Diversity
In-Person Strategic Networking Event
May 9, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM
PT
VENUE: Google Playa Vista
CO-CHAIRS
Suzanne DeJong
Partner and Americas Risk Consulting Business Leader
COMPANY: EY
Dawn Haghighi
General Counsel
BOARDS: Elevate, global law firm
COMPANY: Murcor Real Estate Services Director, Elevate, global law firm
Karen Caswelch
CEO, bridgED robotics
COO, Archytas Automation
COO, Archytas Automation
COMPANY: Boards: Canvas GFX(current)
Indianapolis Airport Authority (former)
Katie Edgerton
Partner
COMPANY: Mintz Los Angeles
Cornelia Cheng
Board Director and Chair, ESG Committee
COMPANY: LTC Properties Inc.
Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire
President, 50/50 Women on Boards
COMPANY: CEO, Berkhemer Clayton Retained Executive Search
What Happens at the Event?
Are you ready to take your career to the next level and pursue a board position?
Our prescriptive strategic networking events for women provide the perfect platform for personal coaching from experienced corporate directors, peer connections, and increased visibility among industry leaders. You'll have the chance to build meaningful relationships and open doors to new opportunities. Register now to secure your spot and take the first step toward your board service journey.
1:00 pm – Arrivals and seating
1:30 pm – Welcome remarks
1:45 pm – Intro panel with Google exec moderator EVP Alison Paul
2:00-3:00 pm – Panel of women directors sharing “How I Got My First Board”
3:00-3:15 pm – Transition to Breakouts and Director coach tables
3:15-4:30 pm – Director/Coach tables and Breakouts
4:30-4:45 pm – Transition to Reception.
5:00-7:00 pm – Reception
Panelists
Alison Kenney Paul
Moderator
Managing Director, Global Alliances, Google
BOARDS:
International Women's Forum (IWF), Sysco, Girls Inc
International Women's Forum (IWF), Sysco, Girls Inc
Wei Zhang
Board Director
Former CEO, Alibaba Pictures
BOARDS:
Starbucks, Ralph Lauren
Starbucks, Ralph Lauren
Anddria Clack-Rogers Varnado
VP&GM, Consumer Business
Kohler Co.
BOARDS:
Red Robin, Columbia Bank
Red Robin, Columbia Bank
Director Coaches
Dr. Joanna Massey
Lead Independent Director
KULR Technology Group
BOARDS:
KULR Technology Group (NYSE) Thumzup Media Company (Nasdaq)
KULR Technology Group (NYSE) Thumzup Media Company (Nasdaq)
Joe Hurd
Operating Partner
SOSV
BOARDS:
Lloyd’s of London, Trustpilot plc
Lloyd’s of London, Trustpilot plc
Geraldine Knatz
Former Director (Retired)
Port of Los Angeles
BOARDS:
Dewberry Engineering
Dewberry Engineering
Julia Gouw
Retired President and COO
East West Bank
BOARDS:
Pacific Life; VIZIO
Pacific Life; VIZIO
Wei Zhang
Board Director
Former CEO, Alibaba Pictures
BOARDS:
Starbucks, Ralph Lauren
Starbucks, Ralph Lauren
Claudia B. Kotchka
Independent Director
BOARDS:
Loblaw Corp (Canadian Grocery Chain)
Blackberry (former)
Loblaw Corp (Canadian Grocery Chain)
Blackberry (former)
John Iino
Global Chief Diversity Officer
Reed Smith LLP
BOARDS:
USC Board of Trustees
Jonathan Club
50/50 WOB
USC Board of Trustees
Jonathan Club
50/50 WOB
Deborah Gallegos
Deputy Controller
State of California
BOARDS:
CalPERS, CalSTRS
CalPERS, CalSTRS
Keith Dorsey
Managing Partner of CEO & Board Services
Boyden Executive Search
BOARDS:
Vimly Benefit Solutions, City of La Quinta's Financial Advisory Commission
Vimly Benefit Solutions, City of La Quinta's Financial Advisory Commission
Carol Kim
Founder & Principal
Shasta Advisory
BOARDS:
California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) Commissioner, LA County Emergency Medical Services Commission
California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) Commissioner, LA County Emergency Medical Services Commission
Kimber Maderazzo
Chairman
C200
BOARDS:
Musely, Synergy Life Science
Musely, Synergy Life Science
Stacie Olivares
Chief Investment Officer/Advisor
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment; Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA)
BOARDS:
Former boards CalPERS and Core Scientific
Former boards CalPERS and Core Scientific
April Henry
Managing Partner
Hawkeye Digital
BOARDS:
ATN International and SciPlay
ATN International and SciPlay
Maria Anguiano
Executive Vice President, Learning Enterprise
Arizona State University
Angela Gardner
Partner
Heidrick and Struggles
Jeff Sakaguchi
Lead Independent Director
TrueBlue, Inc.
BOARDS:
TrueBlue, Inc.; Eccentex
TrueBlue, Inc.; Eccentex
Edie Ames
CEO
Tastes on the Fly
BOARDS:
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
Gloria Lee
Board Director
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
BOARDS:
Hanmi Bank and Council of Korean Americans
Hanmi Bank and Council of Korean Americans
Stasia Washington
Senior Managing Director
First Foundation Advisors
Susan Schroeder
Partner
Compensation Advisory Partners
BOARDS:
National MS Society
National MS Society
Nanxi Liu
CEO and Co-Founder
Blaze Technology
BOARDS:
CarParts.com, Grupo Proeza (Mexico), Former board of Kindred Biosciences
CarParts.com, Grupo Proeza (Mexico), Former board of Kindred Biosciences
Diana Ingram
Independent Director
BOARDS:
Rexford Industrial Realty, ECMC Group,
Rexford Industrial Realty, ECMC Group,
Hoshi Printer
Independent Director
BOARDS:
Lantronix - Audit Chair
AerNos, Inc.
Lantronix - Audit Chair
AerNos, Inc.
Craig Levra
EVP-COO
Goodwill Southern California
Goodwill Southern California
Founding Member GoodwillFinds.com
BOARDS:
Virco Manufacturing; Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission
Virco Manufacturing; Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission
Pam Kessler
Co-President & CFO
LTC Properties, Inc.
BOARDS:
Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
Ann Lundy
SVP Finance and Chief Audit Executive
Activision Blizzard
BOARDS:
Beachbody and Call of Duty Endowment
Beachbody and Call of Duty Endowment
Jaime Lee
CEO
Jamison
BOARDS:
The James Campbell Company
The James Campbell Company
Pam Lifford
Former President
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands, Franchises, and Experiences
BOARDS:
Tapestry Inc.
Tapestry Inc.
Katherine Blair
Partner, Capital Markets
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
BOARDS:
Skechers U.S.A., Impac Mortgage Co.
Skechers U.S.A., Impac Mortgage Co.
Cornelia Cheng
Board Director and Chair, ESG Committee
LTC Properties Inc.
Anna Kan
Director
CVB Financial Corp (NASDAQ: CVBF)
BOARDS:
CVB Financial Corp., California Manufacturing Technology Consulting
CVB Financial Corp., California Manufacturing Technology Consulting
Jeri Harman
Founder & Chairman
Avante Capital Partners
Les Sussman
Practice Leader
RGP
BOARDS:
East West Bancorp
East West Bancorp
Christine Bucklin
Leadership Committee
Taulene Kagan
Consultant
Kagan Communications
Leisa Wu
Independent Board Director
Forest Lawn
Colleen Diles
President
Diles Consulting
Jeanine Wright
Board Member | Global COO | Founder & CEO | Investor
Katina Metzidakis
Vice President and Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Topgolf Callaway Brands
SPONSORSHIP
PACKAGES
$5,000+
Our Sponsorship Packages start at the City Silver level with options to curate packages at the Worldwide Corporate level, providing you with the opportunity to showcase your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Multi-city – $50K
Multi-city – $40K
Multi-city – $30K
Emerald
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Thank you to our In-Kind Donors!
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