Meet Our Speakers
Meet the bold thinkers and cross-sector changemakers shaping the future of pro bono. IGNITE 2025 speakers bring deep expertise and fresh perspective on how we build a more resilient, equitable, and innovative social sector—together.
DAY ONE SPEAKERS
Frederick J. Riley
Executive Director, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute
Junno Ro
Head of Strategic Legal Initiatives, University of California Office of the President
Read bio
DAY TWO SPEAKERS
Bryanna Jew
Managing Consultant, Taproot Foundation
Read bio
Jackson Thomas
Chief Program Officer, Taproot FoundationRead bio
Sarah Richter
Executive Director, Senior Lead, Global Impact & Volunteer Engagement Consultant, Wells Fargo
Speaker Bios
Nazanin Ash
CEO, Welcome.US
“Nonprofit Reality Check: What it Will Take to Meet the Moment”
Wednesday, October 22
Nazanin is the founding CEO of Welcome.US, a national initiative transforming America's capacity and commitment to welcoming newcomers through civic engagement and storytelling. Since launching in 2021, over 2 million Americans across all 50 states and 17,000 zip codes have welcomed nearly 800,000 newcomers through safe, legal, private sponsorship pathways; transforming futures for themselves, their communities, and the newcomers they've welcomed. With perspective from her multi-sector leadership roles, experience as a first-generation Iranian-American, and deep faith in Americans and America, Welcome.US' work is about the power of collective purpose to solve challenges and heal divides.
Ann Mei Chang
CEO, Candid
“Nonprofit Reality Check: What it Will Take to Meet the Moment”
Wednesday, October 22
Ann Mei Chang is the CEO of Candid, a nonprofit that provides the most comprehensive data about the social sector—where money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Ann Mei leads Candid in increasing the social sector's ability to do good using data, technology, and compassion. She is a social innovator and author of “Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good.”
Ann Mei served as chief innovation officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development and executive director of its U.S. Global Development Lab. She was chief innovation officer for Pete for America, chief innovation office at Mercy Corps, and senior advisor for women and technology at the U.S. Department of State. She has more than 20 years of experience at Google, Apple, and Intuit. Ann Mei earned her B.S. in computer science from Stanford University.
Kevin Delaney
Editor in Chief, San Francisco Standard
“AI Changes Everything”
Thursday, October 23
Kevin J. Delaney is editor-in-chief of Charter, the leading future-of-work media and research company, and editor-in-chief of The San Francisco Standard. He was previously a managing editor at The Wall Street Journal and senior editor for The New York Times and The Information. Kevin also co-founded Quartz and served as co-CEO and editor-in-chief from its inception through its sale and integration. Earlier in his career, Kevin was a reporter at the Journal in Paris and San Francisco and a TV producer in Montreal. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, board chair at Internews, and has a history degree from Yale University.
Mary Dohrmann
Senior Manager, Employee Impact, Twilio
“Bright Spots: Innovation Sparks for the Next Gen Marketplace”
Wednesday, October 22
Mary Dohrmann is a seasoned CSR and ESG leader, currently serving as Senior Manager of Employee Impact at Twilio.org, the social impact arm of Twilio. She specializes in building employee engagement programs, pro bono initiatives, and social impact strategies that both strengthen corporate purpose and deliver meaningful benefits to communities. Mary brings a strong background in nonprofit work, public policy, and communications to her role. At Twilio.org, she has helped design and scale global volunteering and giving programs, fostered cross-sector partnerships, and advanced the organization’s commitment to trust-based philanthropy and purpose-driven impact. Her expertise spans employee engagement, partnership management, impact measurement, and integrating ESG priorities into business strategy. Prior to joining Twilio, Mary worked at the Clinton Foundation, where she advanced research and writing initiatives in support of complex global challenges. She has also contributed to the broader CSR community through speaking engagements, thought leadership, and collaborations with peer organizations to expand the practice of corporate volunteering and pro bono service. Mary holds a Master’s in Public Policy from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Anne Erhard
EVP, Social Impact & Sustainability, Edelman
“Trust & Connection: Today's Critical Currencies”
Thursday, October 23
Anne brings twenty+ years experience in social impact, corporate social responsibility (CSR), ESG, DEI and nonprofit marketing strategy and execution, as well as mutually beneficial partnership development/management, employee engagement, corporate and consumer fundraising, and integrated communications,. Her work has spanned industries such as: transportation, insurance, health and wellness, retail and apparel, fitness, financial services, and CPG, as well as issues including: inclusion and belonging, women’s empowerment, community health, youth development, education, hunger, environmental sustainability and more.
Anne and her teams help companies and NGOs align on environmental and social issues to take a proactive stand on, while impacting both society and the bottom line. She leads social impact and sustainability strategy and execution for: Planet Fitness, CSX, TJX brands (T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods), and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She has developed purpose-led strategies for ANN INC. (former parent of Ann Taylor and LOFT), Kellogg's, Dunkin' Brands, Nationwide, Republic Services, Principal, Wolverine Worldwide, United and more. This includes counseling clients on social impact and sustainability platform development, signature program development, Foundation grantmaking, corporate philanthropy, employee volunteerism, in-kind donations, pro-bono services, and operational advancements. On the nonprofit side, Anne has been consultant and strategic advisor for the American Heart Association’s helping to develop the $100M+ initiative, Go Red for Women, as well as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and March of Dimes.
Cammie Erickson
Senior Director, Social Impact, LinkedIn
“Bright Spots: Innovation Sparks for the Next Gen Marketplace”
Wednesday, October 22
Cammie is committed to building a future of work that works better for everyone.
As Senior Director of Social Impact at LinkedIn, Cammie connects professionals overcoming barriers to economic opportunity at scale. She lead our Social Impact partnerships along with our Employee & Community programs and Disaster Response efforts - harnessing the collective power of our people, platforms and data to deliver on LinkedIn's vision to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
She regularly speaks at industry events and conferences and was awarded Emerging CSR Practitioner of the Year in 2016 by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. She's a mom of two kids and is deeply committed to expanding access to paid leave and affordable childcare for all.
Joe Fuller
Co-Lead, Managing the Future of Work Project, Harvard Business School
“Next Gen Service: Powered by AI”
Wednesday, October 22
Joseph Fuller is Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School and one of America's leading thinkers on the future of work. Before joining the faculty, he was a founder, first employee and long-time CEO of Monitor Group, the global strategy consulting firm, now Monitor-Deloitte.
Joe’s research focuses on two major topics—the changing nature of work and the evolution of the C-Suite. He founded and co-leads the Managing the Future of Work Project at Harvard Business School that research issues of direct relevance to decision makers in business and government, including the impact of generative AI on the workforce. He co-hosts The Managing the Future of Work podcast that has been downloaded 2.5 million times. He also founded and co-leads Harvard’s Project on the Workforce, a collaboration between the Harvard schools of business, government and education. It studies issues related to lower skilled workers, including career pathways and the causes of income polarization and occupational segregation.
Joe is a widely published author. His work has appeared in periodicals including the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Washington Post and the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Hill, Politico and Axios. He has appeared on the CBS Evening News, the NBC Evening News, France 24’s Evening Report, and PBS’s Marketplace and CNBC on multiple occasions. His work has been covered extensively in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Economist, Yahoo! Business and Fox Business.
“AI Changes Everything: Designing Corporate Pro Bono for a Fast Future'“ & ”Rethink the Business Case for Pro Bono”
Thursday, October 23
Alex Gallafent
Executive Director, IDEO
Allex Gallafent helps shape futures through storytelling, design, and strategic imagination. He's currently a senior leader at IDEO, one of the world's leading design & innovation firms. With roots in journalism (BBC, public radio), a background in theater, improv, and performance, and a grounding in analytic philosophy, Alex navigates ambiguity through curiosity and interrogates orthodoxies with healthy skepticism. At IDEO, he's helped shape the firm's approach to climate-centered design and the emerging relationship between people and AI.
Ian Goldsmith
Chief AI Officer, Benevity
“Next Gen Service: Powered by AI”
Wednesday, October 22
Ian Goldsmith is a seasoned product executive with more than 30 years of experience in product and data leadership. He believes AI isn’t just a feature but a transformative force that belongs at the heart of a company’s strategy. At Benevity, Goldsmith leads the strategic deployment of artificial intelligence throughout Benevity's Enterprise Impact Platform, leveraging AI-powered analytics and generative AI to create transformative, scalable solutions that help companies realize greater business and societal value from their purpose initiatives.
Prior to joining Benevity, Goldsmith held senior leadership roles at MeridianLink, Waycare, and Akana where he honed his advanced AI strategy development for global brands while staying committed to responsible AI innovation and continuous learning. His work has delivered meaningful change with thoughtful integration of AI capabilities in product, data, and user experience across industries including technology, finance, and transportation. Goldsmith holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge.
Kara Gustafson
President, RBC Foundation USA, Royal Bank of Canada
“Rethink the Business Case for Pro Bono”
Thursday, October 23
Kara Gustafson is a Sustainability and Impact executive who has stewarded more than $2 billion in philanthropic investments, with over two decades of leadership in corporate responsibility, philanthropy, sustainability, and community engagement. She has designed and led high-impact global initiatives across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to drive economic growth and inclusive opportunity.
Kara currently serves as Interim Head of US Foundation, Sustainability & Impact at RBC Capital Markets. Previously, she was Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellowship, where she relaunched the program from the pandemic, launched its most diverse class to date, and co-founded the FLF-ESG Impact Exchange, a forum on sustainable finance for senior leaders.
She spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs in leadership roles across Corporate Engagement and the firm’s Impact Investing business. She was a founding team member of Goldman Sachs’ flagship global philanthropic programs—10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Businesses—scaling them into industry-leading initiatives that continue to drive economic growth, inclusion and opportunity today.
Alethea Hannemann
Founder, Board.dev
“Bright Spots: Innovation Sparks for the Next Gen Marketplace”
Wednesday, October 22
Alethea Hannemann (co-founder and CEO, Board.dev) has extensive expertise in cross-sector collaboration, including building standard-setting programs at the Taproot Foundation, the nonprofit capacity builder that has delivered $100M in critical services to nonprofits and social enterprises around the world, and launching Taproot+, the first online marketplace for skills-based volunteering. She has also served as strategic advisor to social impact teams at companies like Okta, Google, and Splunk, and as COO of a $25M food access nonprofit. With co-founder Aaron Hurst, she wrote Powered by Pro Bono. Alethea started her career writing technical and product content in Boston and Silicon Valley, bridging the gap between brilliant engineers and the people who used their products. Alethea has served on three nonprofit boards.
Leslie Hardy
Director, Inclusion & Belonging, Pinterest
“Trust & Connection: Today’s Critical Currencies”
Thursday, October 23
Leslie Hardy is Director of Inclusion & Belonging (I&B) at Pinterest, where she leads strategic programming for the Inclusion & Belonging team with a focus on community proximity. In partnership with the Chief I&B Officer, she designs proximity‑informed initiatives, strengthens listening mechanisms, and builds trust‑based local partnerships that bring Pinterest closer to employees, creators, and Pinners. Her work advances equity operations across business and people strategies, shapes an inclusive brand and culture, and drives outcomes in organizational health, belonging, and community engagement. Leslie steers cross‑functional efforts across People, Business Affairs, Social Impact, Brand and Product teams to realize Pinterest’s global inclusion, equity, and wellbeing priorities.
Before Pinterest, Leslie led DEIB strategy at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Danaher), where she built and executed the equity strategy and diversity roadmap for 11,000+ associates worldwide. Previously, she served as Program Manager in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Cleveland Clinic, advocating for a multinational workforce and forging external partnerships to reduce health disparities and improve patient outcomes. Her healthcare background spans hospital and program administration, health policy and community engagement, advocacy and outreach, and the pharmaceutical sector.
Leslie holds a BS in Health Sciences from Howard University and an MS in Health Policy and Management from The New School. A champion of accessible wellbeing, she is a 200‑hour registered yoga teacher (Cleveland Clinic School of Yoga) and health and wellbeing coach (Duke Integrative Medicine). She serves on the Taproot Foundation board and lives in the greater Washington, DC area with her family.
Pamela Jacob
Corporate Social Responsibility Leader, North America, IBM
“AI Changes Everything”
Thursday, October 23
As IBM's North America CSR Leader, Pamela helps advance IBM’s efforts across strategic social impact partnerships, charitable giving, social innovation, and employee volunteerism. Through IBM’s free education program [skillsbuild.org]IBM SkillsBuild, Pamela’s team provides access to courses in AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, and more - furthering IBM’s commitment to upskill 30 million people globally by 2030.
Pamela led CSR strategy and communications as Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s Senior Director of Social Impact and Government Affairs and worked with brands like the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Radio City Rockettes, the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and iconic venues such as The Garden and Sphere. While at MSGE, Pamela worked closely with the Executive team to oversee philanthropy, DEI, sustainability, supplier diversity, employee engagement, public affairs communications, climate legislation tracking, and delivery of the 2023–2024 CSR Report. At Collibra, Pamela developed the company’s first ESG strategy and roadmap. Pamela spent nearly 7 years, at Oracle NetSuite, expanding global distribution of technology product donations and pro bono resources across North America, EMEA, and Latin America - scaling nonprofit and social enterprise partnerships from a few hundred to over 2,000. At Oracle NetSuite, Pamela also advanced go-to-market strategies, branding, digital media, and customer engagement—boosting NetSuite visibility on platforms like G2 and Gartner. Earlier in her career, Pamela led an array of highly successful pilot workforce development initiatives, including a technology initiative for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Pamela is a proud Penn State alumni and can be reached on LinkedIn.
Expertise in conceptualizing/executing innovative programs, building teams, project management, compliance/quality assurance, & driving positive results. Pamela was named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by New York Nonprofit Media and one of the Responsible 100 in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by City and State New York.
• Corporate Giving, Matching, & Technology Donations
• Revenue Generating Business Development Partnerships
• Operations, Strategic Planning, & Digital Transformation
• Pilot Program Design, Measurement/Evaluation, & Reporting
• Sustainability & ESG Materiality Mapping
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Branding, Communications, Events, & Marketing
• Workforce Development, Training, & Enablement
• Nonprofit Foundation & Volunteer Management
• Public Speaking & Though Leadership
• Community Affairs / Government Relations
• Employee Engagement & Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Lyndsay Harris Kyei
Vice President of Global Impact and Sustainability, ServiceNow
Welcoming Remarks
Wednesday, October 22
Lyndsay Harris-Kyei is a dynamic leader in corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with a proven track record of driving business value through impact-driven initiatives. With deep expertise in aligning sustainability strategies with core business objectives, she has built and scaled programs that foster innovation, collaboration, and meaningful global change.
As the head of Global Impact and Sustainability at ServiceNow, Lyndsay leads the company’s social impact strategy and initiatives, environmental sustainability, and regulatory requirements and reporting. She drives initiatives with a strong focus on data-driven impact, strategic collaboration, and seamlessly integrating sustainability into the company’s core business strategy. Grounded in the belief that collective action - both within the organization and across industries - is key to meaningful change, her approach ensures that ServiceNow’s sustainability efforts are not just aligned with business values but embedded in the company’s overarching objectives. Under her leadership, ServiceNow has set ambitious goals, including the aspiration to reach 1 billion people through its technology and impact initiatives. Prior to this role, Lyndsay built ServiceNow’s Global Social Impact and Investments corporate strategy.
Prior to joining ServiceNow, Lyndsay designed and expanded the Medidata’s corporate social responsibility strategy, launching an innovative, award-winning skills-based volunteering program and spearheaded the release of the company’s first global impact report. Lyndsay has also worked in the Chairman’s Office at IAC, leading corporate philanthropic initiatives—all while running her own charity-based fashion company, Tent Marketplace.
Lyndsay holds a master’s degree in international affairs from The New School, specializing in human rights and governance. She is based in New York.
Shaista Keating
VP of Hardware, TechSoup
“AI Changes Everything: Designing Corporate Pro Bono for a Fast Future”
Thursday, October 23
Shaista T. Keating is a Vice President at TechSoup and an expert in technology strategy. She has been a management consultant in the academic, public, private, and non-profit sectors. Shaista was an executive at Arcasun, a senior manager at Accenture, and a research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Change focused on information and communication technology innovation. Having worked with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and taught at Georgetown University and the University of South Africa, Shaista has worked effectively in diverse environments around the world. She was selected as a Fulbright scholar and served on the American Embassy School Board in New Delhi, India. Shaista completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in international trade at Georgetown University, and a post graduate study in internet law at Harvard University.
Shaista enjoys volunteering for the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Partnership Fund, Skidmore College President’s Council, and Williams College’s Parent Fund Committee. Shaista loves to scuba dive, sail, and sing. She cherishes spending time with family and friends. Shaista resides in the D.C. Metro area with her husband, Dominic, and daughters, Summer and Sophia.
Whitney Kimmel
Vice President Global Head State Street Volunteers, State Street
“Innovation Spark”
Thursday, October 23
Whitney Kimmel is the Global Head of State Street Volunteers, where she leads a dynamic portfolio of initiatives that foster employee engagement and community impact.
Over her eight years in Corporate Citizenship, Whitney’s role has evolved to encompass:
Year-round skills-based volunteering strategy and execution
Oversight of global volunteer ambassador groups (Corporate Citizenship Councils)
Nonprofit board training and matching programs
Management of volunteer resources and policies
Ownership of all Corporate Citizenship-related technology and communications
And, proudly, the unofficial title of Volunteer T-Shirt Czar
Before joining State Street, Whitney spent 10 years at the American Cancer Society, working in development through Relay for Life at the local, regional, national and global levels.
Originally from Arkansas, Whitney attended the University of Kansas and now lives just outside Boston with her husband Matt and their two delightfully feral children — Elliot (7.5) and Oliver (5). She’s an avid runner/new triathlete, a murderino and an aspiring napper.
Matt Klein
Chief Program & Impact Officer, Robin Hood Foundation
“Nonprofit Reality Check: What it Will Take to Meet the Moment”
Wednesday, October 22
Matthew Klein is the Chief Program & Impact Officer of Robin Hood Foundation, where he oversees the Grant Strategy, Public Policy, Management Acceleration and Measurement & Learning teams. From 2014 through 2021, he served as Executive Director of the NYC Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity, a 60-person unit that helps the City of New York use evidence and innovation to identify and grow effective anti-poverty programs, practices and policies. Previously, Matt served as the first Executive Director of Blue Ridge Foundation New York, a philanthropic fund that later merged with Robin Hood as Blue Ridge Labs. He has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards. Matt is a graduate of Yale Law School, Yale College, and the Boston Public Schools. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and twin daughters.
Bei Ling
Head of Human Resources, Wells Fargo
“The Future of Skilled Service”
Wednesday, October 22
Bei Ling leads Human Resources for Wells Fargo and serves on the Wells Fargo Operating Committee. She is responsible for all aspects of the company's human capital strategy. Bei and her team work closely with leaders across Wells Fargo's global footprint to build a world-class culture and foster an inclusive environment committed to attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining the best talent.
Before joining Wells Fargo in 2021, Bei was managing director and global head of Talent Development and Total Rewards at JPMorgan Chase. She was accountable for driving strategy and implementation across global functions, including leadership development and succession planning, learning, career development, compensation, benefits, and workforce data and analytics. At the same time, she was head of Human Resources for the Commercial Bank, leading end-to-end human capital strategy and programs for the business.
Bei previously was deputy head of Human Resources at PNC Financial Services and co-chaired PNC's Management Committee. She led multiple large-scale HR initiatives, including the PNC/National City merger and a redesign of the bank’s talent programs. She also held a variety of Human Resources and Global Finance roles at Merrill Lynch.
A graduate of Beijing University in China, Bei earned her master’s degree in business administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for USC Marshall.
Diego Mariscal
CEO, 2Gether-International
“Nonprofit Spotlight: Today's Urgent Needs”
Thursday, October 23
A trailblazer at the intersection of disability advocacy and entrepreneurship, Diego Mariscal is the Founder and CEO of 2Gether-International (2GI), the largest 501c3 non-profit and global startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Under Diego's leadership, 2GI has supported over 700 startups, helping them raise approximately $84 million USD in combined investment, revenue, and acquisitions. Diego has overseen strategic collaborations with governmental organizations, as well as corporate partnerships with Comcast NBCUniversal, IDB Lab, JPMorgan Chase, among many others. He currently serves on the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee.
Elaine Mason
Chief Strategy Officer, Taproot Foundation
"The Future of Skilled Service”
Wednesday, October 22
Elaine Mason is a forward-thinking strategy and human resources executive, known for driving transformational change and building a sense of purpose and connection within organizations. She is currently acting as a fractional Chief Strategy Officer at the Taproot Foundation, where she is helping the organization rethink its strategy to stay impactful and relevant in the AI era. In this role, she is also creating a research and foresight function to ensure the future of work includes pro bono.
Prior to her work at Taproot, Elaine has held senior leadership positions at major corporations including Cisco, American Express, and Paramount Global. A recognized industry thought leader, Elaine has been published and invited to speak at leading conferences on topics such as the future of work, people analytics, and the business implications of AI.
In addition to her executive career, she has advised startups including GrowthQ and Imperative, is currently on the Founding Board of the Chamber of Connection and served as a Board Member for the Taproot Foundation and Achieve Mission.
Elaine holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and lives in New York with her partner, Tim and their dog, Magnolia.
Ellen McGirt
Editor-in-Chief, Design Observer
“Reimagining Systems Through Design”
Wednesday, October 22
Ellen McGirt is an author, podcaster, speaker, community builder, and award-winning business journalist. She is the editor-in-chief of Design Observer, a media company that has maintained the same clear vision for more than two decades: to expand the definition of design in service of a better world. Ellen established the inclusive leadership beat at Fortune in 2016 with raceAhead, an award-winning newsletter on race, culture, and business. The Fortune, Time, Money, and Fast Company alumna has published over twenty magazine cover stories throughout her twenty-year career, exploring the people and ideas changing business for good. Ask her about fly fishing if you get the chance.
Susan McPherson
Founder and CEO, McPherson Strategies
“Trust & Connection: Today’s Critical Currencies”
Thursday, October 23
Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships (McGraw-Hill). Susan has 30+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, BSR, DLD, Worth Women and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.
Susan is the recipient of Forbes magazine’s 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media’s Worthy100 award. She has also won numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. Currently, Susan invests in and advises women-led start-ups, including: iFundWomen,Inc., The Meteor, Our Place, Spicewell, The June Group, Hint Water, The Helm, Apolitical and The Muse. She has recently started investing in women-led Broadway productions including Like Water for Elephants and SUFFS. She previously served on the boards of USA for UNHCR, Bpeace, The Lower Eastside Girls Club and presently serves on the board of The 19th News. She is on the advisory boards of Better Politics Foundation, LEBEC, The Conduit and Just Capital
Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits including She’s The First and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global ambassador and member of The Leadership Now Project. She resides in Brooklyn.
Archana Menon
Managing Consultant, Taproot Foundation
Day 2 Emcee
Thursday, October 23
Archana Menon is a social impact consultant and facilitator specializing in amplifying individual and organizational capacity to spark lasting social change. With cross-sector and international experience in journalism, diplomacy, and civic leadership development, she transforms complex challenges into opportunities for partnership and sustainable progress.
As Managing Consultant at the Taproot Foundation, Archana leads strategic corporate partnerships, guides teams on mission-critical projects, and designs dynamic pro bono programs that engage employees while strengthening the nonprofit sector.
A certified Adaptive Leadership™ facilitator and licensed Interpersonal Leadership Styles (ILS) trainer, Archana is also an adjunct lecturer at the Colin Powell School of Civic & Global Leadership.
She is based in Queens, New York City and always ready to exchange notes on where to find the best food in the world's borough.
Katie Merkel
Senior Manager, Global Health Investments, Pfizer Inc.
“Level Up: How Pro Bono Builds the Skills (and Leaders) of Tomorrow”
Thursday, October 23
Katie is a Senior Manager on the Global Health Investments team based at Pfizer’s headquarters in New York City. She is responsible for leading Pfizer’s global skills-based volunteering program, Global Health Fellows, which, for more than 20 years has enabled colleagues to lend their expertise to global health organizations around the world working to strengthen health systems and close the health equity gap. She also manages the Global Health Innovations Grants program out of The Pfizer Foundation* which aims to improve quality of care and strengthen health systems in lower income countries.
Prior to this role, Katie provided program and project management support to the International Public Affairs team in Corporate Affairs. Since joining Pfizer in 2016, Katie has volunteered in various capacities with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) and currently serves as the Marketing lead for the Peak Performance Affinity Group.
Before joining Pfizer, Katie managed the Pediatric oncology fellowship and residency programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Katie obtained her undergraduate degree in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University with minors in International Business and French and holds a MBA with a healthcare concentration from the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College in NYC.
*The Pfizer Foundation is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.
Stacy Palmer
CEO, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
“Nonprofit Spotlight: Today's Urgent Needs”
Thursday, October 23
Bio coming soon.
Sarah Richter
Executive Director, Senior Lead, Global Impact & Volunteer Engagement Consultant, Wells Fargo
Closing Toast
Thursday, October 23
A self-starting philanthropic strategist with more than 20 years of experience driving community impact; a social entrepreneur who has successfully led local and globally recognized initiatives; and a dedicated development professional with a passion for connecting resources to needs and training leaders through service. Recognized as a creative, strategic thinker and articulate communicator, rooted in equity, and skilled in leading diverse teams from analysis to action.
Frederick J. Riley
Executive Director, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute
“The Future of Skilled Service”
Wednesday, October 22
Frederick J. Riley is the Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute. He previously served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati where he provided strategic leadership in financial development, advancing the YMCA mission through annual giving, government and foundation grants, endowment bequests, along with gifts and capital campaigns. He developed a fundraising board, positioned the Y as a dedicated community partner and lead advocacy efforts, program impact and volunteer development.
Before joining the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, he served as the National Director of Urban Development for YMCA of the USA, the Y’s national resource office. There, he served as the principal thought leader and strategist for programs and services impacting over three million teens around the country. He has also served in similar leadership roles for the YMCA of Southwest Illinois, Metro Atlanta YMCA and the National Conference of Black Mayors.
He is passionate about the development of communities and people. He has spent almost two decades ensuring the positive life trajectory for youth with a focus on urban, under-served communities and poverty. Originally from Saginaw, MI, college and professional opportunities allowed for stops in Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati. He participants in many professional and civic groups, but his most important role is as favorite son, brother, uncle and godfather.
Naria Santa Lucia
General Manager, Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement, Microsoft
“Next Gen Service: Powered by AI”
Wednesday, October 22
Naria K. Santa Lucia offers over 20 years of leading high-performing teams and organizations to deliver education and workforce development, corporate social responsibility, and legal aid programs. She has successfully collaborated and partnered with numerous educational and workforce development organizations, including private sector partners, United Nations agencies, the World Bank, and other nonprofit and intergovernmental organizations, as well as public sector partners such as ministries of education, workforce, and higher education systems around the world
Naria has also managed the significant growth and transformation of corporate organizations and teams and nonprofit organizations by recruiting and motivating board members, cultivating talent and nurturing high-performance mindsets, developing key partnerships and strategic connections with corporate and philanthropic partners, and engaging in comprehensive program assessment, development, and expansion. She has led extensive capacity building and resource development activities, raising millions of dollars in public and private funds for various programs.
Currently, Naria serves as the General Manager of Elevate at Microsoft Corporation, where she is responsible for leading education, workforce development, and skilling programs and investments, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability training, reaching over 100 million learners. Naria has also designed, developed, and managed innovative Career Essentials Certificates with LinkedIn Learning on a range of topics.
Yolanda Seals-Coffield
Chief People & Inclusion Officer, PwC US
“The Future of Skilled Service”
Wednesday, October 22
Yolanda Seals-Coffield is PwC US Chief People & Inclusion Officer. As a principal with the firm for over 14 years, she's worked across every aspect of the employee experience.
In 2022, Yolanda launched My+, the firm's biggest and boldest reimagination of its people experience. Today, she continues to lead efforts to modernize how people grow and thrive at PwC—using technology and a culture of care to drive skill development, well-being and inclusion across the firm's talent strategy.
Before joining the [US Leadership Team], she served as the firm's Chief Employement Counsel and president of the PwC Foundation.
Her JD is from the Boston University School of Law, where she was a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow and a staff editor of the Public Interest Law Journal. Her BA is from Howard University.
Michael D. Smith
President & CEO, Eckerd Connects
“Nonprofit Spotlight: Today's Urgent Needs”
Thursday, October 23
Michael D. Smith is a nationally respected social impact leader with decades of experience transforming systems, scaling opportunity, and uniting cross-sector partners to support youth, families, and communities.
He became President and CEO of Eckerd Connects on June 16, leading one of the nation’s largest nonprofits dedicated to workforce development, family support, and youth services. With more than 2,000 employees in 20 states and Washington, D.C., Eckerd Connects helps over 23,500 people annually gain the resources, skills, and support needed to thrive.
Smith’s commitment to service is deeply personal. Raised by teen parents in an under-resourced community in Western Massachusetts, he found mentorship at his local Boys & Girls Club, where he later worked and launched a career devoted to opening doors for underserved families.
Most recently, Smith served as CEO of AmeriCorps, overseeing $4 billion in assets and more than 200,000 service members across 40,000 locations. He modernized the agency, expanded opportunity, and launched initiatives focused on youth mental health, conservation, and public health. Previously, he led My Brother’s Keeper in the Obama White House, directed the Social Innovation Fund, and advanced civic engagement and economic mobility efforts at the Case Foundation.
Kimberly Swartz
Head of Pro Bono Services, Taproot Foundation
“Next Gen Service: Powered by AI”
Wednesday, October 22
Bio coming soon.
Holly Trotter
Partner, PwC
Welcoming Remarks
Thursday, October 23
Bio coming soon.
Cat Ward
CEO, Taproot Foundation
Day 1 Emcee
Wednesday, October 22
Cat Ward is the Chief Executive Officer of Taproot, where she is leading the charge to redefine and scale the pro bono movement. Under her leadership, Taproot is advancing a next-generation pro bono marketplace—integrating artificial intelligence, skills-first approaches, and cross-sector collaboration to equip nonprofits with the capacity they need at a moment of historic demand. Her career has spanned leadership roles across sectors at organizations like Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the City of New York.
A nationally recognized voice on the future of work, service, and nonprofit capacity building, Cat writes a regular column for Forbes on leadership and purpose in fast-changing times, and her perspectives have been featured in Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company. She speaks frequently on how pro bono and skilled service build critical professional skills, strengthen workforce resilience, and help nonprofits adopt emerging technologies to drive social impact.
Jacqueline Yannacci
Executive Director, California Volunteers
“Bright Spots: Innovation Sparks for the Next Gen Marketplace”
Wednesday, October 22
Jacqueline Yannacci is the appointed Executive Director of California Volunteers, Office of the Governor within the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement. She previously served as California Volunteers’ Chief Program Officer since 2020. At California Volunteers, Ms. Yannacci grew the California Service Corps and community engagement through standing up #CaliforniansForAll College Corps and the Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative, growing the California Climate Action Corps and implementing additional new service initiatives.
Prior to California Volunteers, Ms. Yannacci worked as a consultant with Cal OES on the Paradise Wildfire Recovery and led the Food Security task force during the COVID 19 Pandemic. Ms. Yannacci’s commitment to service and community engagement began when she managed the behavioral health recovery efforts for the Red Cross’ national headquarters after Hurricane Katrina. This work evolved into developing and being an early adopter of community resilience building strategies. Ms. Yannacci earned a Master of Public Policy degree from American University and a BS in behavioral science and psychology from Pennsylvania State University.
Talia Young
CEO, Newark Symphony Hall
“Nonprofit Spotlight: Today's Urgent Needs”
Thursday, October 23
Talia L. Young is a dynamic businesswoman and social impact strategist with nearly two decades of experience spanning entrepreneurship, federal policy, and economic development. As CEO of Newark Symphony Hall, New Jersey’s largest Black-led arts institution, Young has secured $11.9 million in state funding to restore and revitalize the historic venue, while boldly reimagining its role in community transformation.
In 2023, she was named New Jersey Resident of the Year by the American Institute of Architects for her leadership in cultural preservation. A passionate entrepreneur, Young founded Space 2 Create, a woman-led nonprofit focused on economic equity in communities of color, and THE 725 STANDARD, a planning and brand experience firm.
Her past roles include Vice President at City National Bank of NJ—where she helped expand access to capital in underserved communities—and Senior Project and Policy Manager to the late U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, leading on issues of economic and urban development.
Young has produced cultural events like BLACK SANTAS WORKSHOP and JUNE-TEE, celebrating Black economic excellence. A Hofstra University alumna with a certificate in Creative Placemaking from NJIT, she lives in West Orange, NJ, with her two children.
Julie Zhong
Director, Learning & Development, Prudential
“Level Up: How Pro Bono Builds the Skills (and Leaders) of Tomorrow”
Thursday, October 23
As a talent leader with a passion for innovation and transformation, Julie Zhong designs and implements innovative learning solutions to enhance employee capabilities and drive business impact. Julie is currently a Director on the Learning & Development team based at Prudential’s headquarters in Newark. She is responsible for designing, developing, and managing a portfolio of Prudential’s executive development, leadership, and upskilling programs to advance Prudential’s strategy and foster a high-performance culture.
Prior to Prudential, Julie was Director, Global Lead of People Manager Development at Mastercard where she made a significant impact by leading and implementing leadership development initiatives for over 6000 people leaders. She was also instrumental in establishing the Leadership Academy that offers learning experiences to strengthen leadership mindset and build critical management capabilities for all levels. Prior to this role, she served as the Head of Learning Program Management where she provided consulting, thought leadership, and program management expertise in global learning solutions.
Prior to Mastercard, Julie worked at Deloitte & Touche supporting clients with creative solutions around program management, workforce planning and analysis support, and post-merger integration.
Julie obtained her undergraduate degree in Information Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds a Master's degree in Business Leadership from Manhattanville College. She loves building Legos and trying out new restaurants with her husband and two young children.
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