Early Career

Christopher “CJ” Gross is the author of the best-selling book What's Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace and the highly acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, A Better Approach to Mentorship. He is a TEDx Speaker and founder of Ascension Worldwide, a firm dedicated to DEI and cultural transformation consulting based in the Washington, D.C. area. CJ has 20-years of experience as an international organizational development consultant specializing in leadership development, and DEI transformation. CJ is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, and Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator.

Mark Thompson is Chief Executive Officer of the CEO Academy, a SHRM company, and long ranked the world’s #1 CEO Coach. He was in 2023 inducted into the Coaching Legends Hall of Fame by the Thinkers50, considered the Oscars of Management. Thompson previously served as Schwab’s chief of staff, chief customer experience officer and CEO of Schwab.com. He was a cofounding advisor to the Virgin Branson Entrepreneurship Centres; a board member of Esurance, acquired by Allstate; and Interwoven, acquired by Hewlett Packard. He was Chairman of Integration Semiconductor, acquired by SiliconLabs and Chairman of Rioport, which pioneered the mp3 player for Apple’s iPod. He was cofounding advisor to the Stanford Realtime Venture Design Lab, where he served as a visiting scholar and faculty at his alma mater, Stanford University. Thompson is also adjunct faculty at the World Economic Forum, World Business Forum, John F. Kennedy University, and has cochaired the Institute of Coaching at Harvard. He has edited 20 books and coauthored business classic, Success Built to Last: Creating a Life That Matters; and the New York Times bestseller, Admired.

Allyson Stewart-Allen is an award-winning international expansion advisor, broadcaster, educator and author of best-selling book Working with Americans.

Originally from Los Angeles and now based in London for over 35 years, she is the CEO of International Marketing Partners and has advised over 260 businesses across 27 countries including Burberry, Chanel, HSBC, Lufthansa, PwC and more. 

Allyson is a regular guest expert for numerous broadcast and print media outlets and is the creator of the LinkedIn Learning course Leading International Growth.  She is the only two-time winner of the EMFD’s Excellence in Practice Award for her custom leadership programs.

Adam Rosenthal is an employment attorney and Partner at Sheppard Mullin based in California.  Adam represents a broad spectrum of companies before federal and state courts and arbitration forums.  In addition to his single plaintiff and class action litigation practice, Adam advises clients throughout the country on compliance matters.  Adam is one of the few attorneys on the SHRM Speakers Bureau.  This is the third year in a row Adam has been invited to lecture at the SHRM Annual Conference.  Adam is also the author of Managing Employees Without Fear: How to Follow the Law, Build a Positive Work Culture, and Avoid Getting Sued.  Adam received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from UC Davis.

James is a rare mix of management consultant, change specialist, adventurer and motivational speaker. James helps turn busy and over-worked managers into inspirational leaders.

Michael Bach is a nationally and internationally recognized thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA). He has worked globally in the IDEA field, including as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG International. He is the founder of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), CCDI Consulting and Pride at Work Canada.

He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning books Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right and Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work.

Dr. Christopher D. Lee is a retired HR executive having served as the CHRO for William & Mary, the Virginia Community College System, and Bates College. He is now a managing director with Storbeck Search. Chris has authored four books, including the SHRM-published Performance Conversations: How to Use Questions to Coach Employees, Improve Productivity, and Boost Confidence (Without Appraisals). He has consulted with over 100 clients in the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa on HR related topics. He is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Marine Corps Reserves.       

Angelique Bellmer Krembs is a Chief Marketing Officer, Advisor and Board Director, and a founding member of “The Band of Sisters.” She is currently CMO-in-Residence at A.Team working with a portfolio of VC and PE-backed brands, and an independent Board Director at NextFoods, Inc. Angelique spent 23 years at PepsiCo, leading turnaround and growth for many beloved brands, including VP of Pepsi in the US and VP/Regional CMO for Brand Activation. After PepsiCo, she was EVP, CMO at News America Marketing, leading digital transformation for this a division of News Corp, and then Global Head of Brand at BlackRock, creating the corporate brand strategy and activation around BlackRock’s brand purpose and Corporate Sustainability. Angelique earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Angelique passionately believes in “performance with purpose,” and that great business results and high functioning teams always "start with why.” She claims a quirky obsession with how board games can teach leadership lessons.

Mitzi Short is an executive coach and speaker, the Co-Founder and CEO of New Season Coaching & Consulting Group, and a founding member of “The Band of Sisters.” Mitzi spent 25 years at PepsiCo in sales, operations, and marketing leadership roles, including PepsiCo Customer Team VP/GM and VP of Multicultural Marketing. Mitzi also serves as an Adjunct Executive Coach for the Center for Creative Leadership and for the University of Oregon’s Executive MBA Program. Mitzi is a Fund for Education Abroad Board Member and former member of Davidson College’s Board of Trustees, The Executive Leadership Council, and GOLFTEC’s Franchise Advisory Board Mitzi earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College and M.B.A. from the University of Oregon. Mitzi is a big sports fan who loves traveling, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends. In addition, she is a GOLFTEC Franchise Owner and contributing author of Teeing Up for Success.

James is a rare mix of management consultant, change specialist, adventurer and motivational speaker. James helps turn busy and over-worked managers into inspirational leaders.

Dima is Middle-Eastern in her genes and global citizen in her spirit. She ignites the untapped potential in individuals across the globe, empowering them to shatter limitations and become courageous, purpose driven leaders.

Through keynote speeches, workshops, and executive coaching, Dima shares her unique leadership transformation journey with one goal in mind: motivate those around her to reimagine their potential and grow into leaders.

Dima has worked across the United States, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa for several Fortune 100 companies and has honed a keen expertise in developing leaders to meet the demands of the global workforce.