Kendra Porter is a TEDx speaker, an award-winning image consultant, and wardrobe stylist.  As founder of Honor You, she has worked with thousands of clients, helping them to redefine their personal brand. These days, you’ll find Kendra on a microphone producing events for luxury retailers, facilitating trainings on personal branding and style, teaching at the Fashion Institute of Technology, or in-studio dressing on-air talent for NBC Sports and the Olympics.  

Kendra earned her master's in hospitality and Tourism Management '05 and a bachelor’s in Promotional Marketing Management '00 from UMass. She is also a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in Image Consulting; New York University in Public Relations, and Purchase College in Non-Profit Board Development & Fundraising.

Her motto: “@HonorYourStyle. HONOR YOU!”

FOLLOW & TAG Kendra on all social media at @HonorYourStyle 

Ashley Olafsen is a seasoned entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and community builder whose passion for uplifting others is at the core of her professional journey. As the Harvard Innovation Labs’ Community Manager, Ashley supports founders on their entrepreneurial journeys by connecting them to resources, opportunities, and each other.

As the Co-Founder of MOVE, Ashley dedicated eight years to creating a positive impact on young women's lives through empowerment workshops and summer programs. Her role involved not only planning and executing programs but also building a highly engaged and inclusive community.

In her role as an Account Executive and Startup Coach at IFundWomen, Ashley conducted more than 500 private coaching calls, guiding entrepreneurs on crucial aspects such as pitch refinement, goal setting, and community building.

Formerly serving as the Assistant Director of Women's Entrepreneurship at Northeastern University, and currently serving as Harvard Innovation Lab's Community Manager, Ashley continues to make a mark in supporting and guiding founders.

To learn more about Ashley, please visit www.AshleyOlafsen.com or follow her at @ashleyolafsen.

Judi Vigna is the CEO of Specialized Career Guidance LLC, a WBENC-certified business dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and the advancement of women-owned enterprises. As a workforce development practitioner, Judi is passionate about empowering young people, creating workforce pipelines, and igniting economic prosperity. Guided by her belief in the untapped potential of graduating high school seniors, she provides professional development to school leaders and educators on how to create sustainable and scalable workforce pipelines from high school to leading industries in their community.

Judi blends big-picture thinking with systems expertise to connect high schools with industries seeking motivated individuals. With 20 years of experience, she collaborates with employers, school districts, unions, and associations to design scalable career pathway programs aligned with Massachusetts’ priority sectors. Her work is deeply rooted in fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and transformative impact for students, communities, and the broader workforce ecosystem.

Certified in Career Pathway Development, Talent Pipeline Management (TPM), and trained as a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), Judi forges strong coalitions that drive economic opportunity and workforce growth.

An active leader, Judi serves on the Public Policy Committee for the Massachusetts Workforce Association and the Inner City Capital Connections (ICAN) Boston Steering Committee for Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). She is also a member of Leadership South Shore and contributes to various industry advisory committees for construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. Previously a board member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, she now participates actively in its initiatives.

A graduate of UMass Amherst, she is deeply committed to the success of UMass Amherst and loves being actively involved each year in Women for UMass and Women of Isenberg Conference.

Xiomara is a dynamic and accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors. As Vice President and Chief of Staff for the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC), she is instrumental in facilitating the growth and development of the region's economy. In her role, Xiomara has focused on industry sector and workforce development, recognizing the full activation and support of community, entrepreneurship, and tourism as integral ingredients to the success and prosperity of an economy.

Throughout her career, Xiomara has been a change agent and advocate for equitable access to economic and academic opportunities. She has held leadership roles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Elms College, Springfield College, and the University of New Hampshire. Xiomara has also worked with the Office of Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield, MA, and the Office of Congressman Richard Neal.

Xiomara is an active member of various boards and committees, Girl's Inc. of the Valley, Veritas Prep Charter School in Springfield, MA, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the Wilbraham Finance Committee.

Karen Desrosiers  is a Senior Vice President , General Merchandise Manager for the TJX Companies. TJX is the leading off-price apparel and home fashion retailer in the US and worldwide.  Karen started her career at TJX almost 28 years ago at the Homegoods division of TJX. 

Karen has advanced through a variety of roles in planning and buying. As a General Merchandise Manager Karen is responsible for leading and supporting teams around developing, executing, and supporting buying strategies that evolve to meet consumer needs. Karen is responsible for a team of merchandise managers and buyers  who procure exciting, branded, trend-right merchandise for 1000+ Homegoods and Homesense stores across the country.  

The most rewarding part of her work is training and developing future leaders and building strong relationships with business partners. Karen grew up in Worcester, Ma and graduated from UMass with a BA in Apparel Marketing  in 1997. 

Karen is a sponsor of the Woman's Leadership committee at Homegoods and is passionate in the power of women to drive innovation and inspire others. 

In her spare time, Karen enjoys getting caught up on the latest home trends and decorating blogs, watching her son and the Celtics play basketball and spending  time at the Cape with family and friends.

Maureen Condon is an Associate on the Global Event Marketing team at BlackRock. In her role, Maureen works with internal stakeholders to create experiences that are unique and reflective of their objectives. 

Maureen graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management. During her time at UMass she was a board member of the Meeting and Event Manager Association, a student chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and a student ambassador for both the HTM Department and the Isenberg School of Management. 

Maureen returned to her home state of New York after graduating, and prior to BlackRock has held roles at Convene, a global hospitality company that creates hospitality-driven experiences by offering clients multiple products including event venues, meeting rooms, flexible office spaces, and building amenity centers; and FCM Meetings & Events, an award-winning strategic event management agency for the corporate market.

As a member of the Global Event Marketing team, Maureen manages the planning process for in-person, hybrid and virtual events of various sizes. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, creating project plans, overseeing event budgets, and coordinating with audio-visual production, creative and facilities/venue teams on program logistics and execution.

Maureen has stayed connected to UMass in her post graduate years by attending and recruiting at multiple HTM Career Days, as a mentor for the HTM Leadership Academy and as a member of the committee for the Annual HTM NYC Alumni Reception, where she received the NYC Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2022.

Taylor is a Vice President on the Investor Relations team at BNY, where she works alongside executive management, communicating the firm’s strategy and financial performance to investors. She joined BNY in 2022 after starting her career at JPMorgan Chase. Out of school, Taylor joined JPM as a member of the firm’s selective finance rotational program. The two-year program gave her firsthand experience with different functions within corporate finance. Post program, she joined a strategic execution team working with JPM’s commercial bankers.

Taylor co-chairs the Future Leader’s initiative at BNY in NYC. The group strives to create a community among employees in the first 5-7 years of their careers, connect members with senior leaders and curate business and skills-based learning sessions. She is also active in supporting firm’s Analyst Rotational program.

Taylor graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a B.B.A in Finance and a double major in Economics. While at UMass Taylor was a founding member of Smart Women Securities, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, and worked in the Admissions office. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking and walking with her dog, Jules.

Samari Ijezie is an innovative professional who graduated from UMass Amherst with a double major in Economics and Political Science. After relocating to NYC, Samari built a career in finance while also pursuing acting, appearing in several films and series. Today, she is the founder of Vinity, a sustainable beverage company focused on creating natural, health-conscious drinks that support eco-friendly practices and regenerative agriculture. With a dynamic background in business, entertainment, and product development, Samari continues to drive meaningful change in every endeavor she undertakes.

Sumeit Aggarwal is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Finhive, a social enterprise that blends business success with social good. She assists women-owned startups with business planning, risk management, record-keeping, and financial reporting, and is dedicated to financial education for women and young adults.

Passionate about aligning her values with her business, Sumeit frequently speaks on topics such as narrowing the gender wealth gap, investing with AI, measuring and achieving financial health, and improving business excellence and financial capability for individuals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

Before Finhive, Sumeit held senior roles in software and healthcare firms, focusing on consulting, strategy, and business analysis. A Certified Scrum Master, she employs a unique Agile approach to finance. She is a board member of the American India Foundation and a committee member at Women for UMass Amherst.

Sumeit was recently honored with the CWE Women Entrepreneurs Who Lift Up Massachusetts award, recognizing her significant contributions to the state’s economy and her efforts to empower women through entrepreneurship. In 2023, Sumeit earned an Outstanding Women of the Year Award for Entrepreneurship, a community leader award from Pepperlane in 2018 and was a finalist in the Northeastern University’s IoT competition for her innovative virtual reality financial design in 2018. She holds an MBA from Babson College, a Master’s in Information Systems from Northeastern University, and a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Delhi University.

Margery is the CFO/COO of Mass Insight Education & Research, which advances Black, Latino and low-income student participation and qualifying scores in Advanced Placement STEM & English and supports public school districts across the country to improve student outcomes. Margery is also a Board member of one of the region’s largest and oldest mutual banks, Middlesex Savings Bank. A proud Isenberg alum and former Accounting Department Alum of the Year, Margery also serves on the Accounting Department Advisory Committee. Margery previously attained CPA firm leadership roles as office managing partner and practice leader. Her Board leadership roles have included Chair of Mass Society of CPAs and Board member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants during the momentous merger of the AICPA with the UK-based Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. As a community leader she has served as Chair of the Metrowest United Way, member of the Professional Advisory Committee of The Boston Foundation and member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Business Partner Committee. Margery co-founded and led the Boston Businesswomen’s Resource Group landing her a shout out in the book Power Chicks. She also established and led the Advisory Council of the Family Business Association. Margery is a credentialed financial expert as a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. She has been recognized as a Woman of FIRE by the BBJ and a Woman to Watch by the Mass Society of CPAs. Fun Fact: Having sung the National Anthem at Fenway and the Boston Garden, Margery was dubbed by the Boston Globe as “The Singing CPA.”

Sarah earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting at Isenberg. Sarah then went on to obtain a Masters of Science in Accounting and Data Analytics from Villanova. After graduating, Sarah started at KPMG in the fall of 2021 and currently works as a Tax Manager in the Integrated Partnerships Solutions Practice in Hartford, CT.

During her time at Isenberg, Sarah was a member of Beta Alpha Psi, Isenberg Women in Business, and played on the Women’s Club Ice Hockey Team. At KPMG, Sarah is a member of the KPMG Network of Women, Hartford Culture Network, and is involved with programs to mentor and welcome new interns and associates to KPMG. In her free time, she enjoys running, baking, and reading.

Mary is a Managing Director of Tax at CBIZ. She began her career in 2011 with a focus on Private Equity and Venture Capital. Mary plays an active role in the professional development, culture, and community outreach of the Providence, RI office. She is also the local leader for CBIZ Women's Advantage (CWA) a program providing educational trainings, networking sessions, and charitable opportunities to women in the New England area. Mary received her undergraduate degree in business from The University of Rhode Island and her MBA from Providence College. 

Dunia Khudairi thrives in the intersection of quality product and great storytelling. Khudairi, a brilliant brand builder, has been in the business of seeking unique selling propositions and innovation since her days at UMass Amherst supporting the Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property for which she won the Chancellor Award in 2010. A summa cum laude graduate of the Commonwealth Honors College and Isenberg School of business with a BBA in Marketing and IT, Khudairi executed her senior Capstone project with NERF, delivering the market research needed for an additional product line for the Hasbro brand. Following her time at UMass she moved to New York City where she worked in merchandising, product development and buying on all kinds of product categories from skin care, to fashion accessories, footwear, home goods, apparel and beyond at Avon Global, Cole Haan and American Airlines. In her transition to Portland, Maine she traded her thriving consulting business for ownership in a small edible kitchen. Under Khudairi’s leadership, Pot + Pan has seen 10x growth, expanding its operations to a full fledged manufacturing and retail business. Pot + Pan is a leader in the state for high quality products and has a reputation for being great place to work. In this business, Khudairi is changing the narrative on how we think about the lifestyle of micro-dosing and merging traditional retail and product expertise with an emerging market. From a long line of smart, and hardworking women, Khudairi sees the value and importance in the representation of Women in Leadership across industries and professions. By sharing the wisdom gained along the path to success and pushing the narrative forward, we support the generations of women to come after us.

Sharon's passion for hospitality began during high school while working at a restaurant in Queens, New York where she spent several years as a waitress, bartender and host. Her interest grew at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she joined the Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration program. While studying, Sharon gained hands-on experience through roles in stewarding, as a barista, and during an internship at the Lord Jeffrey Inn, now the Inn at Boltwood. These early experiences shaped her path in hospitality. 

Today, Sharon serves as Senior Director of Rooms for Global Hospitality at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Her Four Seasons journey began in 2000 when she joined the Four Seasons Hotel New York as a Housekeeping Supervisor. She quickly advanced to roles including Fitness Center Manager and Spa Director. Sharon’s career expanded further at Four Seasons Resort Maui and Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, where she held leadership roles in Rooms Operations, overseeing housekeeping, recreation, concierge, and overseeing a property transition. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sharon played a key role at Four Seasons Hotel New York, which housed frontline medical workers. She worked with the property leadership team to develop safety protocols that became part of Four Seasons’ global Covid-19 response and remained on-site as project manager and director of operations. 

At the end of 2022, Sharon assumed her current role as Senior Director of Rooms for Global Hospitality, supporting leaders in Rooms Operations across more than 130 properties worldwide, as well as supporting opening and transition projects. Sharon takes immense pride in her corporate role, leveraging her hands-on operational expertise to provide meaningful support and guidance to teams across the brand. Sharon has embraced the opportunity to explore and contribute to the communities she has called home throughout her career with Four Seasons. She has served on the Planning Committee for the New York and New Jersey Chapter of Women in Lodging, led community initiatives in Maui and Philadelphia, and was a volunteer Board Member for the Broad Street Hospitality Collaborative in Philadelphia. 

An experienced speaker and mentor, Sharon has shared her insights at events such as the Hotel Show at the Javits Center, where she presented “A 360 of Women in Leadership,” and a symposium at Dartmouth University on integrating hospitality into healthcare. She has also guest lectured at institutions like Maui Community College and the New York Institute of Technology. Sharon continues to prioritize giving back to the community, remaining deeply committed to fostering growth and excellence both within and beyond the hospitality industry.

Carolina Cosby graduated from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst in 2015.  As a student, she completed an internship at PwC and has been with the Firm since graduating. During her time at PwC, she completed her CPA and spent nine years at the Firm serving clients in various roles. ​Most notably, she serves asset and wealth management clients in the Audit and Sustainability practices, simultaneously delivering on both financial statement audits and ESG engagements. She also completed a two-year rotation with PwC's National Office where she worked on technical interpretations and application of Sustainability regulations emerging globally and was part of team authoring the PwC Sustainability Reporting Guide.​

Lauren Bahn is a Senior Manager at Oracle NetSuite and a 2013 graduate of the Isenberg School of Management (BBA in Marketing). She leads a team of presales Solution Consultants who dig into business challenges daily, develop prescriptive solutions, and conduct value-based software demonstrations. These individuals come from all different backgrounds – accounting, finance, and supply chain – the common thread is a passion for both people and product.

With a career background in client services and inventory planning, Lauren found her home in the software industry and is a trusted advisor to hundreds of retailers, wholesale distributors, and manufacturers, who operate their business on NetSuite. A lot of well-known companies – Corkcicle, Crumbl Cookies, Sugarfina, and Lovesac – all use NetSuite to continue scaling their businesses.

Beyond her role as a people leader, Lauren is an active member of the NetSuite Culture Committee, an organization focused on fostering a strong organizational culture. Outside of work, Lauren is a theater enthusiast, an avid traveler, and she enjoys spending time with dear friends she met during her undergraduate years at UMass Amherst.

Becca Gould is American Tower’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and has been with the company since May 2014. In this role, Becca leads American Tower’s engagement with policymakers and industry groups.  Prior to joining American Tower, over the course of twelve years, Becca built, and managed Dell’s Global Government Affairs and Public Policy team based in the capitals of most major markets. She was also a Vice President of Global Public Policy at the Business Software Alliance and an attorney with the law firm of Verner, Liipfert.  She began her career as Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

Becca earned a LL.M. in International Law from the Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law, and B.G.S. from the University of Kansas.

Cristina Roselli is a Senior in the Forensic and Integrity Services Technology practice at Ernst & Young (EY) in Boston. She graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a Bachelor’s degree in Operations and Information Management in 2021 and has been with EY ever since. Cristina specializes in Forensic Data Analytics and has extensive experience in eDiscovery and Digital Forensics. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients across various industries, in countries across the globe. She is grateful for the many influential women in business with whom she has collaborated and who have significantly shaped her professional journey.

Cristina is a strong advocate for mentorship, recognizing the mutual benefits it offers to both mentors and mentees. She actively participates in mentoring programs within EY aiming to inspire and support the next generation of leaders. Cristina believes that mentorship fosters personal and professional growth, enhances skills, and builds lasting relationships.

Originally from Westfield, MA, Cristina now resides in Plymouth, MA. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, walking her dog, Luna, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She is passionate about exploring new cultures and destinations.

Adina oversees business operations for the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center and BSE Global headquarters - as well as all facets of Barclays Center. Home to the NBA Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA New York Liberty, Barclays Center hosts over 200 events per year and has emerged as a “the convening place” for community engagement and activism.

Prior to joining BSE, Adina served as the SVP Business Operations for TD Garden in Boston and previously, Chief Operating Officer for the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

Adina’s career encompasses work at numerous sports and entertainment venues such as TIAA Bank Field, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts; American Airlines Center where her Guest Services department was recognized for excellence by the NBA; Reunion Arena, Charlotte Coliseum, Mobile Convention & Civic Centers. In addition, Adina served on the Super Bowl Host Committee for Super Bowl XXXIX.

As a proponent of teaching and mentoring, Adina has served as an instructor at the (IAVM) Venue Management School (VMS) and sat on the Board of Trustees for the IAVM Foundation and served as Chair of their Board of Directors. She is currently a lecturer in Rutgers University’s Global Sport Business graduate program.

She has received numerous accolades including Venues Now Women of Influence Award, the Women Who Mean Business Award by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Pollstar Women of Live, Venues Now All-Star, the Ray Ward Award for extraordinary contributions to IAVM’s Venue Management School and the Distinguished Alumni Award for UMASS.

Jacqueline M. Johnson, has over 20 years of experience leading diverse teams and community- based organizations across the education and healthcare sectors. Dr. Johnson is the Chief Facilities Expansion and Sustainability Officer of Caring Health Center, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves one of Massachusetts' largest refugee communities. She began her career at the health center in 2008 leading HIV prevention and health insurance navigation programs. Dr. Johnson has over eight years of experience as a faculty member at Bay Path University, where she has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. More recently, she has expanded her teaching role to include Greenfield Community College. Prior to her work in the healthcare sector, Dr. Johnson’s earlier focuses included youth development, social justice, and the prison industrial complex. Her ability to understand and address injustice is informed by her lived experiences with inequity as a woman of color in the United States. Dr. Johnson’s upbringing motivated and instilled in her an unwavering determination that has guided her educational and professional journey. She has received recognition on both state and national levels, including the 2017 "40 Under 40" award from BusinessWest and, more recently, an accolade from MassLive for acknowledging Black leaders in Massachusetts. Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science and Urban Development from Mount Holyoke College, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies from Bay Path University. Dr. Johnson believes that education is an essential pathway to building a more just and equitable society, and her mission is to create equitable education and employment opportunities that support underserved and underrepresented communities to thrive.

Julia Gleim is an EY Technology Risk Assurance Senior who graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a degree in Operations and Information Management (OIM) in 2022. At EY, Julia serves on the leadership team for the Women of Financial Service Organization Consulting group, the Financial Services Organization Technology Risk Women's group, and is a member of the Professional Women's Network Community group for the Boston Office. These groups allow Julia to foster opportunities for women to come together in a professional setting.

During her time at UMass, Julia was an active member of the Isenberg Women in Business Executive Board and continues to cherish opportunities to return to campus and connect with current members. After graduation, Julia moved to Boston and has enjoyed taking in everything the city has to offer.

Beyond her professional achievements, Julia loves to stay active, cook, travel, and spend time with her family and friends. Julia looks forward to meeting you all at the conference!

Kokui Adesokan ‘09 is a Program Manager at Bridgewater Associates—the largest hedge fund in the world, where she oversees a portfolio of software engineering projects. She crafts and implements strategies to enable the seamless delivery of multiple initiatives to meet business objectives. Prior to joining Bridgewater, Kokui was an associate director at Pratt and Whitney. She has been recognized with the UMass Amherst College of Engineering Young Alumni award; the Professional Achievement in Industry Award at the Women of Color STEM Conference; a Trailblazer Spectrum Award at the Black Engineer of the Year Conference; and a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production (STEP) Emerging Leader Award. Kokui earned a BS in chemical engineering from UMass Amherst and an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Kokui serves on the UMass Amherst College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and enjoys spending time with her husband and her two daughters, exploring various cuisines, and traveling the world.

Cory graduated from the Isenberg School in 2010 and immediately began her career at RSM in audit. She has been with RSM for over 14 years and is being promoted to partner in January 2025. Cory has extensive experience serving multinational private and public companies in the U.S. She spent four years working and living in London from 2019-2023 serving international companies. 

Claudia is the Principal at Epona Financial Solutions LLC, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. Her 13 years of Wall Street experience enable her to offer unique skills in developing custom solutions for her clients. As a sell-side analyst, she regularly appeared on CNBC and was frequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Investors’ Business Daily and Money Magazine. She has published research in the Journal of Portfolio Management and was named to Institutional Investor magazine’s All-Star team for nine consecutive years.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioner, Claudia is a regular contributor to the financial website NJMONEYHELP.com and NJ.com. She is also licensed as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and has been specially trained to assist individuals in all stages of the divorce process.

Claudia earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her MBA from Boston University. She is a founding member and past-President of the Long Hill Library Foundation and holds the Treasurer position for the Blinknow Foundation and the Lame2Fame Horse Rescue. She is also a member of Impact100 Garden State, a women’s giving circle.

She is a member of the Financial Planning Association, National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA) and the New Jersey Center for Collaborative Divorce and Mediation.

She lives in Millington New Jersey, is the mother of three adult children and two horses. Her other interests include a golf and gardening.

Erin McDermott is Harvard’s eighth John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics. She leads the largest Division I intercollegiate program in the country with 42 varsity teams.

During her first year in 2020-21, McDermott successfully guided the department without competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on structure and culture, McDermott announced both a restructuring and realignment plan. Department-wide competitive success under McDermott’s leadership has thrived since 2021. Most recently, Harvard Athletics experienced its most successful year in 2023-24 with four national championships, 13 conference championships and a ranking of 29th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. In fall 2024, the Department launched a strategic action plan for the future of Harvard Athletics.

Prior to Harvard, McDermott was the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Chicago and spent 16 years in the Ivy League, at Princeton and Columbia. A Division I student-athlete at Hofstra, McDermott was senior captain of the women’s basketball team, graduating with a BBA in International Business. She also holds an MS in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Carolyn is a Partner in Grant Thornton LLP’s Accounting Principles Group, part of the National Office of Professional Practice for Assurance Servcies, out of the Boston office. In this role, Carolyn works with audit teams and clients as a subject matter expert across several accounting topics including leasing, revenue, segment reporting, and impairment. Between 2020 and 2022 Carolyn served as a Professional Practice Fellowship at the Financial Accounting Standards Board, where she worked on accounting standard-setting projects for revenue, leasing, goodwill, and digital assets.

Carolyn graduated from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst in 2009 with an accounting degree, and began her career with Grant Thornton in the Boston audit practice, serving clients manufacturing, food and beverage, and not-for-profit industries. Carolyn has been an active leader of Grant Thornton’s Women’s Business Resource Group throughout her career, and in 2023 was named one of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs’ 2023 “Women to Watch – Emerging Leaders”. In her free time she enjoys travel, scuba diving, and cross-stitching.

Paige is a seasoned accounting professional with a B.B.A. in Accounting from the Isenberg School of Management and a CPA license obtained in December 2018. With over six years of experience in public accounting, including three years at Deloitte, she is currently thriving at BDO where she has been an integral part of the tax team for over three years. Paige specializes in tax credits and incentives, focusing on federal and state Research & Development Tax Credits, the Orphan Drug Credit, and Section 174 Research and Experimental expenses. Her expertise spans diverse industries such as software, manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals/life sciences, and insurance/financial services.

Paige is passionate about client engagement and excels in her client-facing tax consulting role. She has successfully transferred her love of teaching into her management position at BDO, where she mentors her team and strives to promote a healthy work-life balance. Outside of work, Paige enjoys playing tennis, cooking, and baking. She is committed to nurturing talent within her team and the broader accounting community, eager to inspire and guide the next generation of professionals.

Courtney serves as an audit, senior manager at KPMG, specializing in the consumer and industrial markets industry with a particular focus on audit engagements for public companies. In her role, she is responsible for planning and executing financial statement and internal control audits. Courtney also plays a vital role in the mentor and coaching, newer team members, ensuring they are well-versed in audit procedures and documentation. Additionally, she leads client communications, fostering strong relationships and ensuring clarity throughout the audit process.

Beyond her core responsibilities, Courtney is a business unit audit technology lead, driving the implementation and utilization of advanced technology in audit practices at KPMG. Her expertise in leadership in this area help enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of audit engagements.

Courtney graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2015 with a bachelor of business administration and accounting and in 2016 with a masters of science and accounting. She began her career with KPMG in the Boston audit practice.

Courtney is a Certified Public Accountant and holds memberships with both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts society of Certified Public Accountants.

In her spare time, Courtney enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends whether it's walking, hiking, boating, or skiing. While at Umass Amherst she was a member of the women's rowing team and continues to give back to the Sport by volunteering with Concord crew located in Concord, New Hampshire. Courtney is also a proud dog owner and love spending time with her two dogs Tilly and Gus.

Jessica Staropoli, a 2011 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Marketing and Sport Management, began her career at MKTG, a leading sports marketing agency, right after graduation. Over the past 13 years, she has worked on hundreds of high-profile events, advancing to a leadership role within the hospitality department.

Throughout her career, Jessica has gained extensive experience working with top clients in the sports industry. She has led activations for major partners in professional golf, supported naming-rights assets for NBA team sponsors, and played a key role in events for racing partners within F1 and IndyCar. Her work spans brand partnerships, event execution, and hospitality services, where she excels in managing logistics and delivering seamless experiences for clients and guests.

Today, Jessica supports MKTG’s internal operations, helping to grow the trainee program that launched her career while mentoring the next generation of sports marketing professionals.

She lives in Georgetown, MA with her two young children, husband Michael and dog Griffey.

For many years Ms. Carrara has held leadership roles in the events/experiential marketing industry, creating dynamic and engaging experiences for audiences, fans, and sponsors. Working with renowned speakers, well-known brands, world-class venues, and incredibly talented event teams she’s proud of the history of producing, launching, and managing successful events of all types and sizes. 

She also spent time on the agency side, challenging her to view events through a more strategic lens. Supporting clients such as IBM, Oracle, and AbbVie she analyzed and improved the effectiveness of their portfolios and developed strategies to help them achieve their goals and objectives. 

Inside corporate marketing teams she shaped and reimagined face to face marketing tactics through experiential activities, sponsorship activations and innovative event elements. Whether it was an internal leadership event, customer hospitality or user conference the goal of surprising and delighting attendees was always at the forefront. 

She enjoys sharing her knowledge through coaching and mentoring, as it’s her passion to help educate the next generation of event professionals. 

Outside of her professional life she enjoys yoga, kayaking, pickleball and reading – as well as cheering on her beloved Boston sports teams and volunteering with Pittie Love Rescue. #adoptdontshop

Sarah Marsan is a Divisional Vice President, Merchandise Manager for the TJX Companies. TJX is the leading off-price apparel and home fashion retailer in the US and worldwide.  Sarah has worked at TJX for 17 years and advanced through a variety of roles in planning and buying. In her current role as a Merchandise Manager Sarah is responsible for developing, executing, and supporting buying strategies that evolve to meet consumer needs. Sarah is responsible for a team of ten buyers who procure exciting, branded, trend-right merchandise for 2,500 TJMaxx and Marshalls stores across the country.  Sarah loves the challenge of anticipating trends and finding great deals for consumers.  The most rewarding part of her work is training and developing future leaders and building strong relationships with business partners.  Sarah is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from UMass with a BA in Marketing in 2008.  While at UMass Sarah was a 4-year varsity rower and team captain.  Sarah is an active member of her community and is a board member of the JP Centre/South Main Streets Small Business Council, a non-profit that seeks to guide and grow Jamaica Plain’s small business district.  In her spare time, Sarah likes to cook, read, and spend time outside as much as possible.

Alicia Tulsee is the Founder and CEO of Moxie Scrubs, the leading lifestyle brand for nurses. Born out of the Harvard Innovation Lab, Moxie Scrubs has become a trusted name in healthcare, merging style, comfort, and functionality to meet the unique needs of nurses nationwide, powered by a vibrant community of nurses.

Under Alicia’s leadership, Moxie has expanded beyond apparel into an all-in-one workforce development platform, incorporating AI-driven solutions to elevate the nursing profession. By harnessing innovation and technology, Alicia has positioned Moxie as a leader in nursing, enhancing access to resources, education, and support for nurses at every stage of their careers while empowering their lives on and off shift.

A proud Queens, NY native and the daughter of immigrant parents, Alicia brings relentless drive and purpose to Moxie’s mission. Her vision has earned Moxie Scrubs recognition as one of the Top 30 Innovative Companies to Watch, Fast Company’s Brands That Matter Award, and the Boston Business Journal’s InnoBLAZER Fire Award for top consumer goods company.

Alicia’s leadership inspires as she empowers nurses and champions women and underrepresented founders, serving as a prominent figure in Boston’s innovation ecosystem.

Jenlian Chadwick is a senior trader at Seaboard International Forest Products, where she has worked for 20 years, having started her career with the company in 2004. She graduated from Northeastern University with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a dual concentration in International Business and Supply Chain Management.

In addition to her role as a senior trader, Jenlian is actively involved in leadership positions. She serves on both leadership boards for Forest City Trading Group and Seaboard as well as a current board member of the Beach Hill School. Jenlian is also responsible for overseeing the recruiting, hiring, and training at Seaboard International Forest Products.

Outside of her professional life, Jenlian has been married to her high school sweetheart, McGregor, for 20 years. Together, they have two children, Jackson and Izabelle. She enjoys watching her kids on the lacrosse and softball fields and spending quality time with her family.

Meagan Brouwer is a Supervisor in RSM’s Risk Consulting practice. Meagan holds a B.B.A of Operations Information Management from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. She provides Sarbanes-Oxley and internal audit services to clients in a range of industries primarily, life sciences, government services, and technology. Meagan has experience developing process documentation, performing controls testing, evaluating current controls, and identifying operating efficiency and effectiveness in key process areas.