Leadership (Behavioral)

Susan Anderson, SHRM-SCP has dedicated her career to orchestrating profound shifts in HR practices through strategic integration of emergent technologies. An early adopter by nature, she has been at the forefront of the recent surge in GenerativeAI capabilities, spearheading experiments and adoption of novel strategies to enhance operations and redefine customer experiences.

As a thought leader and analyst, Susan speaks passionately about innovation and leading the future of work while balancing ethical and privacy concerns. Susan has spearheaded the development of proprietary HR Compliance custom GPTs at Mitratech for research, writing, and in delivery of Services to 1.5 Million+ customers.

Susan Anderson, SHRM-SCP has dedicated her career to orchestrating profound shifts in HR practices through strategic integration of emergent technologies. An early adopter by nature, she has been at the forefront of the recent surge in GenerativeAI capabilities, spearheading experiments and adoption of novel strategies to enhance operations and redefine customer experiences.

As a thought leader and analyst, Susan speaks passionately about innovation and leading the future of work while balancing ethical and privacy concerns. Susan has spearheaded the development of proprietary HR Compliance custom GPTs at Mitratech for research, writing, and in delivery of Services to 1.5 Million+ customers.

Robert Garcia is Vice President & Chief Staff Officer of ICF Coaching in Organizations and is responsible for leading the operations that enable global organizations to build coaching capabilities and develop a strong coaching culture. He has held senior level positions at Randstad, SHRM, Baptist Health, Florida International University, LHH, ADP, and United Healthcare. 

He has an MBA from FIU and a Bachelor of Science in Management from NSU. He has 5 HR Certifications, the ICF Associate Certified Coach credential and is a Certified Association Executive. He is fluent in English and Spanish and has presented in 6 continents.

Jyoti Mehra, Gilead's Executive Vice President of Human Resources, is responsible for leading people strategy and, together with the Gilead Leadership Team, building an inclusive and collaborative culture. In her role, she has responsibility for elevating team performance and developing a cohesive approach to attracting, developing and retaining employees.

Jyoti brings extensive experience in business partnership and organizational design to her current position. Prior to joining Gilead in 2017, Jyoti held senior leadership positions with Novartis Corp. in the United States, Europe and China, bringing a broad international perspective to her work.

Jyoti received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Delhi University and her master’s degree in international studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

She currently serves on the board of directors of Lam Research and California Conference for Women.

Fadjanie Cadet (she/her), is an organizational development certified professional and DEI leader, that blends empathy with boldness to inspire inclusive cultures. With a background spanning technology and professional services, she champions high-performing teams and equitable systems. Fadjanie’s approach fosters sustainable change, shifting inclusion efforts from passion to influence. Passionate about amplifying first-gen voices, she drives conversations on intersectionality and talent retention. As the first Global Diversity and Inclusion Director at Forrester, she spearheads D&I strategy, partnering with executives to embed priorities. Fadjanie's unique edge as a speaker lies in her practical insights, drawn from real-world corporate DEI leadership.

As Vice President of Advisory Services, Elaine Johnson works with clients to design and implement transformational HR strategies and solutions. She previously served as a Human Resources executive with national and international organizations in the transportation, telecommunications, financial services, and healthcare industries.  As a Corporate Development Principal, Johnson led strategic investment initiatives from deal qualification through post-acquisition integration. 

She has an MBA from the University of North Florida, a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of South Florida, and is nationally accredited as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Senior Certified Professional through SHRM (SHRM-SCP). 

Dr. Jessica Hicksted, is a resilient and innovative AuDhd woman. With a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology, her research and advocacy serve as a beacon for inclusion and diversity. Dr. Hicksted illuminates the complexities of invisible disabilities, challenging stereotypes and championing workplace inclusivity. Her groundbreaking work includes the development of a pioneering survey, gauging the stigma surrounding invisible disabilities. By dissecting acceptance, ableism, and advocacy, she sheds light on dynamics affecting disclosure decisions in professional settings. Through her work, she emphasizes shifts in workplace culture, enhancing performance and satisfaction where every individual thrives.

Ms. Walters has more than 30 years’ combined experience in management, HR administration, employment law practice, and teaching.

She has presented at conferences across the country, been engaged as an expert witness, and testified before U.S. Congressional and state legislative committees on employment issues.

Her book, “From Hello to Goodbye: Proactive Tips for Maintaining Positive Employee Relations” is in its 2nd edition and was one of the SHRMStore’s “Great 8” best-sellers for eight consecutive years.

Today, Ms. Walters works as an independent consultant doing business as FiveL Company, “Helping Leaders Limit their Liability by Learning the Law.”SM

John works with leaders and teams to activate their DEI values, cultivate leaders within an organization, and unify teams. He is a changemaker who builds bridges and inspires genuine impact through his leadership and speaking!

John’s unique perspective in the diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation empowers leaders to use their own unique experiences to bridge divides. As an executive leader of an organization that works with dozens of cross-sector executives, John actively collaborates with professionals of diverse and divergent views to improve their city.

As a result of John’s work, people experience a real understanding of why bridge builders are needed and how to authentically be one. Palpable growth in organizations happen when this culture of belonging and leadership is cultivated with the tools and language John provides.
 

Dr. Michael Baran is the CEO of Iris Inclusion, a global diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) firm. Dr. Baran draws on his own social science research to inform his DEI speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, and eLearning. After teaching at Harvard University, he has been supporting DEI in organizations for 20 years. His work has been covered in the New York Times, BBC, Forbes, CNN, NPR, and more.

His recent book, Subtle Acts of Exclusion, was named by Forbes as one of “The 11 Books To Read To Be A More Inclusive Leader” and has won several awards.