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The Women of EWA
We offer our diverse membership a range of opportunities for career and personal growth, mentorship, and education, all within a nurturing community focused on building a sisterhood of high level leaders.
Nicole Clemens | Paramount Television Studios | Former President
Nicole Clemens is the former President of Paramount Television Studios (PTVS), where she led a dynamic slate of productions across multiple platforms. During her tenure, Clemens oversaw successful series such as the final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and the second season of Reacher for Prime Video, as well as several hit series for Paramount+ including The Offer, Fatal Attraction, and the Emmy-nominated Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. She also spearheaded upcoming projects like Taika Waititi’s Time Bandits and Before, starring Billy Crystal for Apple TV+, Cross for Prime Video, and The Spiderwick Chronicles for The Roku Channel.
Holly Beeman | | Former Chief Quality Officer
Cinzia Amadio | Silversea Cruises | Senior Vice President Marketing
Currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Silversea Cruises, leader in the luxury cruising industry,
Cinzia is known for being a resourceful, performance driven executive with a strong strategic mindset. Her global, internationally-based leadership experience spans across multiple marketing, sales, and business development pillars.
She joined Silversea in 2015 as a Business Development Director, moved to the Marketing organization in 2017, and quickly made her way to the head of the Marketing Department. She credits her success to her – unusual – background in computer science engineering that provides a strong analytical, technological and process acumen, informing a disciplined and data driven approach to her decision making.
Prior to joining Silversea, she spent almost 15 years in the Information and Telecommunication Technology field, where she covered different roles spanning from software development, IT project management, and sales and marketing. Her signature in these different roles, where she was often handpicked to start up new functions, has always been to ensure results by bringing innovative approaches to the table, and at the
same time building strong and cohesive high performing teams.
Her witty sense of humor, that has evolved to adapt to the multicultural environment she loves to work in, is probably her best secret weapon.
Cinzia is known for being a resourceful, performance driven executive with a strong strategic mindset. Her global, internationally-based leadership experience spans across multiple marketing, sales, and business development pillars.
She joined Silversea in 2015 as a Business Development Director, moved to the Marketing organization in 2017, and quickly made her way to the head of the Marketing Department. She credits her success to her – unusual – background in computer science engineering that provides a strong analytical, technological and process acumen, informing a disciplined and data driven approach to her decision making.
Prior to joining Silversea, she spent almost 15 years in the Information and Telecommunication Technology field, where she covered different roles spanning from software development, IT project management, and sales and marketing. Her signature in these different roles, where she was often handpicked to start up new functions, has always been to ensure results by bringing innovative approaches to the table, and at the
same time building strong and cohesive high performing teams.
Her witty sense of humor, that has evolved to adapt to the multicultural environment she loves to work in, is probably her best secret weapon.
Katelynn Heil | Moonbug Entertainment | GM, Blippi + T-Rex Ranch
Katelynn Heil, the General Manager of Blippi, has successfully transformed the beloved children's show into a global franchise, expanding its reach to millions of children across more than 20 languages and 40 distribution platforms. Under her leadership, Blippi has seen significant growth, with monthly viewership surpassing a billion views. Heil's strategic initiatives include diversifying the franchise with new characters like Meekah, the first female buddy, who became a top 10 kids' show on Netflix, and Juca, a localized character that achieved tremendous success in Brazil. Her leadership also brought about multi-million dollar partnerships with major brands like Play-Doh and Netflix, and her innovative campaigns, such as ""Be Like Blippi"" and ""Blippi in my Hometown,"" garnered millions of impressions and led to sell-out merchandise and widespread recognition, including a mayoral proclamation of ""Blippi Day."" Beyond her work with Blippi, Heil has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry, earning her a spot on Forbes' 40 Under 40 and The Hollywood Reporter's list of the Most Powerful People in Kids' Entertainment. Before joining Blippi, she played a key role in the growth of Otter Media, leading to its $1B+ acquisition by WarnerMedia/AT&T. She has also held positions at DIRECTV and Grant Thornton LLP, co-founded an event rental company, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Gratitude. Heil holds an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of San Diego. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three young children.
Renee James | Founder, Chairman & CEO | Founder, Chairman & CEO
Ms. James founded Ampere Computing in 2017, where she is currently the Chairman and CEO. Ampere produces high-performance microprocessors for cloud and edge computing. Ms. James had a lengthy career at Intel, where she served as President of Intel until her departure in 2016. During her tenure with Intel, she was the first female General Manager of a business unit as well as the first woman Executive Vice President that led R&D and global manufacturing operations. Ms. James was also Chief of Staff to Intel founder, Andy Grove, midway through her career for over 4 years. James has vast, global operating experience in both hardware and software development and manufacturing of semiconductors. She has led several development sites around the globe as well as directed government affairs in those regions. She is an active voice for diversity and representation in technology as well as the future of the U.S. Semiconductor industry. James was on the Fast Company list of “100 Most Creative People in Business,” ranked 21st on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business, and has been recognized on the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women List. James is a member of the Board of Directors of Citi Corp and Oracle. James has been a member of the National Security Advisory Committee to the President of the United States, by presidential appointment since 2011 and is the most recent Chairman Emeritus.
Roslyn Schneider | RozMD Patient Affairs Consulting | Principal
Roz is a visionary in human-centered design in biopharmaceutical research and healthcare, pioneering intentional listening and co-creation with patients to drive positive outcomes. With a background spanning clinical practice, academia, and hospital administration in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, as well as leadership roles at Pfizer, Theravance, and BioMarin, Roz has consistently aligned practices with patients' articulated needs. A mentor and advocate for gender equity, she‘s held leadership roles in professional associations and has received numerous accolades, including the Global Fellowship in Medicines Development and recognition from the CUNY School of Medicine. Additionally, Roz is an active member of Women Execs on Boards and serves as Chair of the Board for the American Lung Association's New Jersey Chapter. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in musical theater, opera, Zumba, and traveling with her husband and daughter from their home in Scarsdale, New York.
Beth Ginzinger | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona | President and Chief Transformation Officer
Beth Ginzinger serves as the Chief Transformation Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) and President of Prosano Health Solutions, focusing on healthcare transformation and strategy. With a background that spans from nursing to top executive roles, Beth's career reflects her deep understanding of healthcare delivery and strategic growth. She has been instrumental in initiatives such as Anthem's provider joint ventures and BCBSAZ's strategic plan, which led to significant revenue growth and market leadership.
Beth's leadership extends beyond her executive roles, with extensive board experience and a history of founding and scaling organizations globally. Her efforts in public health, including leading Arizona's first 24/7 vaccine clinic, showcase her commitment to healthcare innovation and accessibility. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s in Business from Eastern Michigan University, and she has received numerous accolades for her work in the healthcare industry.
Beth's leadership extends beyond her executive roles, with extensive board experience and a history of founding and scaling organizations globally. Her efforts in public health, including leading Arizona's first 24/7 vaccine clinic, showcase her commitment to healthcare innovation and accessibility. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s in Business from Eastern Michigan University, and she has received numerous accolades for her work in the healthcare industry.
Cathy Mann | Cemex | VP & Global Head
Malika Begin | Begin Development | Owner
Malika Begin is a seasoned people and organization development leader and the founder of Begin Development, a consulting firm dedicated to building strong, healthy cultures within companies. With over a decade of experience in the people development space, Malika's signature heart-centered style and commitment to team health are driven by her belief that leaders who invest in their employees, excel in conflict resolution and communication, and foster collaborative teams are the greatest assets to a successful organization. Malika's journey began with startups, tech, marketing, and entertainment brands and has since expanded to medical, construction, and nonprofit sectors. Her self-designed, award-winning COLLAB program, an 8-month leadership development solution, has been instrumental for companies navigating significant transitions and changes. Renowned for her strategic work with executive teams and boards, Malika also excels in delivering a 12-month manager development program, professional coaching, custom-built learning and development offerings, and crisis-driven change management initiatives. Malika holds a Master's degree in Organization Development from Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School. She is certified in Gallup's Strengthsfinder and Wiley's 5 Behaviors. She also holds an MBA certificate from Graziadio and a Negotiation certification from Pepperdine Law's Straus Institute. Malika resides in Malibu, California, where she enjoys life with her husband and three boys.
Pepper Anderson | Chilton Trust | President & CEO
Dynamic and influential leader with a demonstrated track record of exceptional results in building people capability, and delivering exceptional business results. Proven reputation for being a strong business partner, developer of talented and highly engaged associates, and a powerful change agent for improving organizational effectiveness and building winning teams. Highly effective in collaborating and connecting with associates at all levels of the organization
Maria Lane | Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling | Chief Human Resources Officer
Dynamic and influential leader with a demonstrated track record of exceptional results in building people capability, and delivering exceptional business results. Proven reputation for being a strong business partner, developer of talented and highly engaged associates, and a powerful change agent for improving organizational effectiveness and building winning teams. Highly effective in collaborating and connecting with associates at all levels of the organization
Nina Barjesteh | Nordstrom | EVP, President
Experienced Chief Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. Skilled in Trend Analysis, Merchandise Planning, Retail, Strategic Planning, and Multi-channel Retail. Strong marketing professional with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) focused in International Business from University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management.
Alexandra Burban | Standard Industries | Head of Corporate Development and M&A
Ms. Burban oversees Corporate Development and Mergers & Acquisitions globally at Standard Industries. Standard is a privately-held, leading global industrial business that includes the world’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, a market-leading specialty chemicals platform, next-generation solar technology, public and private market investing, logistics and real estate. With over 20,000 employees, operations in 82 countries, and over 180 manufacturing plants worldwide, Standard offers innovative solutions with an eye toward creating long-term value and building world-class assets. Prior to joining Standard in 2020, Ms. Burban was a Senior Managing Director at Evercore, where she spent 11 years, most recently serving as the Head of the Asia Cross-Border M&A business focused on providing corporate advisory services related to the firm’s activities in Asia, primarily in China, Japan, India and South Korea. Prior to joining Evercore, Ms. Burban was at Lehman Brothers in London, focused on strategic investments in alternative investment managers within the Investment Management Division in Europe. Ms. Burban began her career in Lehman Brothers’ Investment Banking Division in New York. Ms. Burban graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas at Austin where she received a B.B.A. in International Business and a B.A. in Italian.
Ana Villegas | Latinitas | Board Director
Allison Windon | Paylocity | Head of Go-to-Market Strategy
Allison Windon currently serves as the Head of Sales Strategy, Operations & Enablement at Paylocity, a leading SaaS provider in the human capital management space. She is responsible for a team focused on evolving and supporting the execution of our sales strategy and enabling sales with the tools, resources, and training needed to maximize success. Allison has more than 23 years of experience driving excellence in sales, service, Marketing and strategy across SaaS and B2B industries. Allison’s most recent role was SVP, Global Head of Customer Experience Strategy at Qualtrics where she built and lead a global solutions team who leveraged AI and natural language processing innovations to drive growth, cost savings, and exceptional client and employee experiences. She also spent nearly 2 decades in the financial services space at Capital One, Aon, Zurich, and Allianz. Allison earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond and her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She lives in Barrington, IL with Robert, her husband of 20 years and their daughter Maggie who is a freshman in high school. They also have an 18-year-old son, Clayton, who is attending college in New York City. Allison and her family lived in Munich, Germany for 3 years and have a love of travel and experiencing different cultures. Allison loves cooking, as well as wine tasting from different regions. She has also been working on her golf game and her goal for 2024 is to get a handicap.
Catherine Calarco | Optomed Plc | Board Director
Catherine Calarco, a global executive with a passion for driving positive impact in the Healthcare, AI, and SaaS industries. With a proven track record as a transformational leader, Catherine has navigated multimillion-dollar revenue growth and rapid adoption of new award- winning innovations, leaving an indelible mark on Digital Health/SaaS businesses ranging from $10M to $6B. Currently, she serves as Board Director for Optomed, Advisor to Astia.org and Executive consultant in AI and Healthcare along with her radio show- Humanity Evolve. As a collaborative and empathetic leader, she fosters human-focused innovation and cultivates high- performing teams, setting new standards of excellence. As an award-winning thought leader and advocate for women’s leadership, Catherine continues to inspire and empower others while pursuing a vision of creating a positive impact in the world. Leadership includes Automation Anywhere, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Thermo Fisher/Biolab, Intellectual Ventures, Applied Biosystems, HeartMath, and several Digital Health & AI companies.
Erin Sheckler | Stewart Title | Head of National Commercial Services
With over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, Erin is a passionate and driven leader who strives to deliver exceptional service and value to her clients and partners. As the Head of National Commercial Services at Stewart Title, she oversees the strategy, operations, and growth of the commercial division across the country. She has produced unprecedented results by building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, enhancing the brand's reputation, and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the team.
Courtney Wright | Gemini Builds It! | CEO and Owner
Courtney Wright values helping people and believes in "the grind." An entrepreneur, podcast host, innovator, problem solver, wife, and mother, Wright wears many hats - the first of which goes on in the wee hours of the morning. Wright founded CDW Merchants, the leading 3D visual retail displays and E-commerce gift packaging provider for the nation's top retailers including Kate Spade, Victoria's Secret, and Club Monaco. In 2016, Courtney packaged CDW for the last time and sold it to Bunzl PLC (traded on the FTSE 100). That same year, Wright bought Gemini Builds It! and Showcase Acrylics, a leader in the framing, moulding, and custom display industry. As CEO, Wright quickly expanded their offerings to become a well-known name in E-commerce, Design, Corporations, Museums and Institutions, PPE and Healthcare, as well as the Hospitality and Events industries. She continues to look for organic growth opportunities through additional acquisitions. With her solid mix of entrepreneurial foresight, creativity, & hustle mentality, it was only natural that Wright would develop a platform to share her highly sought-after business advice. Lady Boss Podcast by Courtney Wright is a modern-day guide to business, offering listeners real conversations with other successful leaders/entrepreneurs to discuss failures, successes, and strategies.
Amie Chang | Nardello & Co | Managing Director
Amie Chang is a Managing Director at Nardello & Co. and the Head of the firm’s Los Angeles office, where she leads complex, multi-jurisdictional due diligence, strategic intelligence, fraud, asset tracing, and litigation support investigations. Prior to her return to the US, Amie lived and worked in Asia for over a decade in her capacity as a diplomat for the US Department of State and as a senior investigator with an international consulting firm. Before joining the firm, Amie was a director at a global risk consulting firm, where she managed multiple engagements across the Asia-Pacific region. These included investigations into numerous Chinese companies in a wide range of industries ahead of their proposed listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; a business intelligence investigation seeking to gain clarity into allegations made against a listed Chinese company by a short seller report; and a litigation support investigation into assets of the founders of a prominent food and beverage chain in Asia and North America. Amie began her career as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense, where she authored analytic papers on the leadership and foreign policy of East Asian countries. She was also a diplomat with the US Department of State, where she monitored political and security issues and served as a focal point for multidisciplinary teams by providing analytic support to policy, strategic, and tactical customers.
Dana Guthrie | Gateway Capital | Managing Partner
Managing Partner at Gateway Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups. Gateway Capital prefers to be the first institutional investor in young startups and has an emphasis on low-to-moderate-income communities. Before her current role, Guthrie founded and managed Alchemy Angel Investors, an angel investment network that aimed to improve financial and social capital accessibility for underrepresented founders. She founded Alchemy while being employed full-time at a Fortune 500 company and managing a multi-million dollar, global product offering. Guthrie is a two-time patent recipient and holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering, and a M.S. in Energy Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Nicole Brownell | Zartico | Chief Experience Officer
Nicole Brownell serves as CXO at Zartico. Zartico, the maker of the first Destination Operating System, harnesses big data, science, AI, and technology to provide unprecedented visibility into the movement of people and economic opportunities. ZDOS™ is a continuous strategic planning solution that equips businesses and communities to make better decisions to navigate the future. Nicole brings endless curiosity, energy, and attention to detail to her work, with a portfolio rich in senior leadership across multiple strategic verticles in agency, hospitality, and DMO. Nicole is known for her ability to create behavioral and persona-based strategies and is equally adept at connecting the dots thematically to identify transformational solutions at scale including business modeling, sustainability planning, and identifying succinct team processes while inspiring others to be empowered to lead. Nicole continuously serves on committees and boards focused on change and impact including Audubon International’s Sustainability and Stewardship, NYSHTA Women in Hospitality, Women in Lodging, UNTO Women, and Destinations International’s EDI Committee, and the Community Task Force Committee.
Jourdan Hathaway | General Assembly | Chief Marketing Officer
Jourdan Hathaway is a highly accomplished Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in the global EdTech and Professional Services sector. She's a senior executive with expertise in developing and scaling organizations for growth, with a focus on meaningful digital transformation. She's a master de-dabbler – that necessary body of work that analyzes all of the tools, processes, service offerings, and investments that creep up over the years to determine what things need to be stopped to make way for more strategic focus and prioritization. Her career is marked by a 4.5X scale increase, achieved through both organic and inorganic growth. Before her current role, Jourdan served as the Senior Vice President of Operations in the Online Program Management industry overseeing the functional areas across the full Student Lifecycle: marketing, enrollment, retention, product, academic services, operations, and change management (7 functions, 800+ colleagues, 55 job functions). Her background spans small, mid-size, and large companies, providing her with a deep expertise at the intersection of marketing, operations, and technology. Jourdan is also well-versed in M&A, having managed through them six times from both the acquirer and seller sides. She excels at translating business opportunities into scalable strategies and technologies that drive efficacy, efficiency, performance, and growth. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jourdan is known for her curiosity and ability to quickly connect the dots. She believes in the importance of being a good human, both personally and professionally, recognizing that people are drawn to work with those who embody these qualities.
Sejal Patel Daswani | Deputy | Chief People Officer
Business leader with experience building ground up start ups to scaling start ups, mid-size and Fortune 500’s in the technology, climatetech, and healthcare sectors . Sejal brings a unique lens integrating human capital expertise with strong business and marketing acumen. She is versed in HR Strategy & Operations, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, DEI & Belonging, Total Rewards, Board Compensation and NomGov Committee Management as well as M&A and Integration.
Lindsey Carnett | Marketing Maven | CEO and Founder
I am a former NCAA collegiate women's soccer captain turned entrepreneur. I founded integrated marketing agency, Marketing Maven, at age 26. Over the last 14 years, I've developed The Marketing Maven Method which includes Insights, Strategy and Implementation. I have most recently authored a book about the same. I enjoy networking, helping business leaders grow their companies, creating custom strategies and supporting nonprofits in attracting new donors. Outside of work, I love spending time with my 4 year old and 3 year old redhead, vibrant daughters and my wonderful husband of 16 years! We love going swimming, vacationing and playing sports.
Kristin Slanina | Director: Ouster & Comstock | Former Chief Innovation Officer Park My Fleet, former CEO Truecar, Independent Director
Kristin has spent 30+ years in the automotive space and is a recognized thought leader in the changing way that people and goods will move. As former Chief Innovation Officer at ParkMyFleet, Kristin created the end-to-end electric vehicle (EV) and sustainable energy mobility fleet hubs that include on-site power generation, storage, software, infrastructure and battery recycling. She spent over two decades at Ford Motor Company, including engine engineering, strategy, planning and advanced technology. She was a key architect of the Ford Future of Mobility Blueprint. She worked as an Executive Director at Ernst & Amp; Young, leading their future of mobility practice, then CTO of Thirdware and COO of TrueCar. She has over 30 years of leadership in innovation, electrification, mobility, and engineering. Kristin is a graduate of MIT, (B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering) with a minor in French. She is on two public boards: Ouster and Comstock Inc. Co-author of the book: Fast Future Blur
Nicole Clemens
Former President
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