Lakeisha Robichaux
CEO
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An absolute powerhouse, Lakeisha Robichaux is a speaker, business transformation strategist, leadership expert, and CEO and Founder of Chief of Minds, LLC, a human resources firm. With over 22 years of experience in human resources and leadership positions at several Fortune 100 and 500 companies, she focuses her livelihood on leading authority in complex operations, she is revolutionizing the way organizations succeed by optimizing operations, developing executive leaders and building high-performing teams. With a strategic skillset that is unmatched, Lakeisha is a problem-solver, a success seeker, and the organizational leader that every company needs by their side-and at their table.

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Lakeisha Robichaux
CEO
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An absolute powerhouse, Lakeisha Robichaux is a speaker, business transformation strategist, leadership expert, and CEO and Founder of Chief of Minds, LLC, a human resources firm. With over 22 years of experience in human resources and leadership positions at several Fortune 100 and 500 companies, she focuses her livelihood on leading authority in complex operations, she is revolutionizing the way organizations succeed by optimizing operations, developing executive leaders and building high-performing teams. With a strategic skillset that is unmatched, Lakeisha is a problem-solver, a success seeker, and the organizational leader that every company needs by their side-and at their table.

SESSIONS:
Monday, June 24, 2024 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Gerald E. Johnson II
EVP, Health Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
American Heart Association
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A NYC native and business leader, Gerald brings a wealth of consumer and B2B marketing experience from major fortune 500 Companies including Unilever, Nabisco, Dr. Pepper/7-UP, Cadbury Schweppes, ConAgra Foods and Magic Johnson Enterprises. During his career, Gerald has held various leadership positions in Marketing, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer for Magic Johnson Enterprises and the Magic Johnson Foundation with accountability for leading marketing across all businesses, as well as driving revenue and sales growth for all Strategic Alliances and Licensing ventures.

As a volunteer, Gerald remains committed to making a difference in communities nationally by serving on committees and boards over the years at The American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.), Catholic Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Meals on Wheels. Gerald currently sits on the National Board of Directors for the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), which represents the global consumer products industry of leading companies, 20,000 brands and a collective spend of $400 Billion Annually.

As an industry leader and sought out speaker, Gerald is currently the Executive Vice President, Health Equity and Chief Diversity Officer for The American Heart Association and is responsible for leading strategy, growing investment and driving impact for Equitable Health and Wellbeing globally.

SESSIONS:
Dr. Jay Bhatt
Managing Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (DCHS) and the Deloitte Health Equity Institute (DHEI)
Deloitte
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Jay Bhatt, D.O., MPH, MPA, is a physician executive, internist, and public health innovator. As Managing Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (DCHS) and the Deloitte Health Equity Institute (DHEI), Dr. Bhatt directs the research agenda across the life sciences and health care industry leading to actionable insights for executives and their teams. Dr. Bhatt also drives high-impact collaborations and investments to influence key decision-makers, address place-based inequities, and innovate to advance health equity. He also serves on the Deloitte Purpose Office leadership team. He is a prominent thought leader on the issues of population health, health equity, health care transformation, public health, and digital health. Passionate about patient care, Dr. Bhatt practices medicine for the historically underserved while serving in his leadership role at Deloitte.

 

Before joining Deloitte, Dr. Bhatt was senior vice president and chief medical officer (CMO) at the American Hospital Association. While there, in addition to his role as CMO, he served as president of the Health Research and Educational Trust and helped lead the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. His early work in health care involved practicing primary care at Erie Family Health Center, on faculty at Northwestern Medicine, chief health officer of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, and serving as managing deputy commissioner and chief innovation officer for the Chicago Department of Public Health.

 

Dr. Bhatt earned a B.A. from the University of Chicago; a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government as a Zuckerman and Commonwealth Fund Minority Health Policy Fellow. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.

 

Dr. Bhatt's work has earned the attention of top media outlets seeking his expertise and perspective. He is a recipient of the Crains Chicago 40 Under 40 Award, the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Award, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

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Subha Barry
President
Seramount
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Subha Barry is a C-suite leader and an Advisor who brings a unique perspective on the alignment of corporate culture to talent strategy and business results. As a transformational change agent, she has a proven record of identifying and accelerating new business creation, driving sales, and increasing profitability.

She is president of Seramount, now part of EAB. Seramount is a strategic professional services firm dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Here, she drives the firm’s vision, strategy, and business development.

Prior to Seramount, Subha was SVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Freddie Mac, where she served on the firm’s management committee and led their Foundation. During her 20+ years at Merrill Lynch, Subha was a Managing Director and the company’s first Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, driving strategy, infrastructure and execution with a lens on both global and local community. 

She has taught Gender Policy at Columbia University and speaks passionately about the ability to drive innovation by embracing diversity and creating a culture of inclusion. She serves on a number of boards aligned with her passions—education, cancer research, and women’s advancement.

 A native of India, Subha holds a BA from Bombay University and an MBA and MS in Accounting from Rice University. She enjoys golfing, reading poetry and rallying for social change. She has two grown children and lives in Naples, Florida and New Hope, PA with her husband.

SESSIONS:
Anastasia Nesbeth
Ink Factory
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Anastasia is an artist at Ink Factory with a passion for visual storytelling. Originally from Florida, she ventured to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Outside of work she enjoys customizing secondhand clothes through drawing and screen printing. Zines and animated movies are constant sources of inspiration for her. When she's not creating, you can find her immersed in nature, buried in a good book, or engrossed in podcasts like Getting Curious and The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya.

SESSIONS:
Moderator: 
Wendi Safstrom
President
SHRM Foundation
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Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. She has both association and nonprofit management experience including; national program development and administration, membership strategy, marketing and product development, grant management, development and donor stewardship, and leading cross functional teams. Safstrom currently serves as President for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation), where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation's programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation's new mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals.  

Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of their Foundation's most recent five-year strategic plan, and was responsible for all Foundation programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives. The NRAEF's philanthropic programming supported a number of audiences including high school youth, veterans transitioning from service to civilian work and life, opportunity youth and incumbent workers. Of particular note, she led the implementation of the restaurant industry's premier high school career and technical education program, growing the program to over 2,000 public high schools, engaging over 150,000 students annually, nationwide. In 2016, she served as lead project director for the development of a $10 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the hospitality industry's first apprenticeship program, and was instrumental in the Foundation's reorganization and relocation of operations from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C., transforming the staff and culture.  

Safstrom has also held human resource management roles with the Leo Burnett Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. She has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 "Power 20" by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry.  

 

SESSIONS:
Somen Mondal
General Manager of Talent Intelligence, Dayforce
Dayforce
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With over 16 years of experience in the tech industry, Somen is a seasoned leader, innovator, and entrepreneur who is passionate about building and scaling AI-powered solutions that enhance talent management and decision making. As the General Manager at Dayforce, Somen is responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of the company's talent product offerings, including all current and future next generation talent products.

Prior to joining Ceridian, Somen successfully founded and exited two companies. Most recently, Somen served as the CEO and Co-Founder of Ideal, which was acquired by Ceridian (NYSE:CDAY) in 2021. Somen also served as Co-Founder and CEO at his prior company, Field ID, which was acquired in 2012 by Fortune Brands (NYSE:FBHS). Somen's professional accolades include spots on both the Profit Hot 50 and Deloitte Fast 50 lists, as well as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012.

SESSIONS:
Sarah Haflett
VP Health Care Thought Leadership and Research
Fidelity Health℠
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Sarah Haflett has nearly 20 years of experience in health care research, strategy and consulting. She has spent more than a decade guiding US and global health leaders and decision makers with industry intelligence and research-based perspectives. Her work informs business leaders on the interdependencies between the health industry, benefit trends and the employee experience.

Sarah is a published writer and her research has been cited by health leaders across the industry. She has frequently spoken on a range of topics, including employee health benefits, health information technology, digital health, care delivery innovation, and consumerism. Her work has been cited in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Business Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Becker’s Hospital Review, and several other trade journals.

Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Sarah was Director and Research Leader at PwC’s Health Research Institute, where she led the strategic insights team and established the institute’s research strategy and infrastructure. She also spent seven years as a strategy and operations consultant at PwC serving health systems, academic medical centers and large physician practices.

Sarah holds a Master's degree in health services administration from the School of Public Health and Health Services at The George Washington University. She received a Bachelor’s degree in business management from Bucknell University.

SESSIONS:
Sarah Haflett
VP Health Care Thought Leadership and Research
Fidelity Health℠
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Sarah Haflett has nearly 20 years of experience in health care research, strategy and consulting. She has spent more than a decade guiding US and global health leaders and decision makers with industry intelligence and research-based perspectives. Her work informs business leaders on the interdependencies between the health industry, benefit trends and the employee experience.

Sarah is a published writer and her research has been cited by health leaders across the industry. She has frequently spoken on a range of topics, including employee health benefits, health information technology, digital health, care delivery innovation, and consumerism. Her work has been cited in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Business Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Becker’s Hospital Review, and several other trade journals.

Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Sarah was Director and Research Leader at PwC’s Health Research Institute, where she led the strategic insights team and established the institute’s research strategy and infrastructure. She also spent seven years as a strategy and operations consultant at PwC serving health systems, academic medical centers and large physician practices.

Sarah holds a Master's degree in health services administration from the School of Public Health and Health Services at The George Washington University. She received a Bachelor’s degree in business management from Bucknell University.

SESSIONS:
Jennifer Currence, SHRM-SCP, MBA
Senior Partner
HR Soul
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Jennifer Currence is a Senior Partner of HR Soul consultancy firm in Tampa, Florida, where she delivers results through strategic HR solutions, customized training, and coaching programs for organizational and HR leaders. She is the creator of The SOTO Approach to Leadership and the content architect for the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) international People Manager Qualification (PMQ).

Jennifer is regularly published and featured in industry magazines, webinars, and podcasts, and is the author of three HR books on behavioral business competencies.

Jennifer was named one of the top 100 Influential HR professionals in Leadership and Development in 2023 and Tampa Bay’s HR Consultant of the Year in 2017.  She is a faculty member for SHRM and a former management professor at the University of Tampa.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Karl James Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, CSP
Senior Consultant
Gregory and Appel
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Karl Ahlrichs specializes in helping organizations solve their talent shortage. 

He is a national speaker, author, and consultant, presenting on the people issues in all industries with a focus on solving the talent shortage, and is often quoted in the local and national media. 

He has held senior level positions in multiple Professional Services firms, and was a founding partner of ExactHire, bringing his HR, operations, diversity & belonging, and learning & development skills with him.

He loves intentionally improving with all manner of hobbies including writing haiku, mastering photography and learning Spanish. He wishes he had stuck with his guitar lessons in high school.

He was named the SHRM Human Resource Professional of the Year for the State of Indiana. He is on the Boards of several organizations, including the Maryland CPA Society.  He has lived in Scotland and Spain and is passionate about exploring new experiences with his family and friends.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Dr. David S. Cohen
Founder and Contrarian Consultant
DS Cohen & Associates
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Dr. David S Cohen, Ed. D. has a vision: organizations that thrive by living their values in good times and especially VUCA times. David's first career was in elementary and high school education, where he built a reputation for building school communities based on purpose and social responsibility. Thirty-three years ago, David transitioned to corporate consulting. As a consultant, David earned a reputation as a contrarian consultant because he does not always follow what is popular in his chosen field. David works with leaders helping them understand what is and what is not necessary to build an active and positive organization. He helps leaders' step into life's challenges, inspiring them to create a sustained approach through a values-based focus, resulting in better business results. David has had the privilege of partnering with firms across five continents and all business sectors. Additionally, he has worked with governments, from the local to the federal levels, and not-for-profits.

He has taught at Queens University School of Labour Relations and the executive education program at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Currently, he teaches organizational development at Durham College. David earned his doctorate from Boston University in Humanistic and Behavioural Studies. During that time, he also completed independent studies at the Harvard School of Education, where he was a teaching assistant.

David is a keynote speaker, educator, disruptor, facilitator, team builder, and executive coach. He has authored two books and numerous articles in professional journals.

  • The Talent Edge: A Behavioral Approach to Hiring, Developing, and Keeping Top Performers (John Wiley and Sons, August 2001)
  • Inside the Box: Leading With Corporate Values to Drive Sustained Business Success (Jossey-Bass September 2006)

When David is not travelling, he is hanging out with his five grandchildren, when possible, attending Toronto Raptor's games, or relaxing with family and friends.

David is honored to be recognized by the GlobalGurus30 as one of the top 30 GlobalGurus in Organizational Culture.

SESSIONS:
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Dr. David S. Cohen
Founder and Contrarian Consultant
DS Cohen & Associates
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Dr. David S Cohen, Ed. D. has a vision: organizations that thrive by living their values in good times and especially VUCA times. David's first career was in elementary and high school education, where he built a reputation for building school communities based on purpose and social responsibility. Thirty-three years ago, David transitioned to corporate consulting. As a consultant, David earned a reputation as a contrarian consultant because he does not always follow what is popular in his chosen field. David works with leaders helping them understand what is and what is not necessary to build an active and positive organization. He helps leaders' step into life's challenges, inspiring them to create a sustained approach through a values-based focus, resulting in better business results. David has had the privilege of partnering with firms across five continents and all business sectors. Additionally, he has worked with governments, from the local to the federal levels, and not-for-profits.

He has taught at Queens University School of Labour Relations and the executive education program at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Currently, he teaches organizational development at Durham College. David earned his doctorate from Boston University in Humanistic and Behavioural Studies. During that time, he also completed independent studies at the Harvard School of Education, where he was a teaching assistant.

David is a keynote speaker, educator, disruptor, facilitator, team builder, and executive coach. He has authored two books and numerous articles in professional journals.

  • The Talent Edge: A Behavioral Approach to Hiring, Developing, and Keeping Top Performers (John Wiley and Sons, August 2001)
  • Inside the Box: Leading With Corporate Values to Drive Sustained Business Success (Jossey-Bass September 2006)

When David is not travelling, he is hanging out with his five grandchildren, when possible, attending Toronto Raptor's games, or relaxing with family and friends.

David is honored to be recognized by the GlobalGurus30 as one of the top 30 GlobalGurus in Organizational Culture.

SESSIONS:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm