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Reshma Saujani
Founder and CEO, Moms First
Founder, Girls Who Code
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Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and founder and CEO of Moms First. She is also the founder and former CEO of Girls Who Code. She has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Reshma’s newest book Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think) presents a bold plan to address the burnout and inequity harming America’s working women today. She is also the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, and her influential TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection,” has more than five million views globally.
Reshma began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. During the race, Reshma visited local schools and saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code. She also served as New York City’s Deputy Public Advocate, where she created innovative partnerships to support DREAMers and promote campaign finance reform, among other initiatives.
In her nine-year tenure as the CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma grew the organization to one of the largest and most prestigious non-profits in the country. Today, Girls Who Code has taught 300,000 girls through direct in-person computer science education programming, and reached 500 million people worldwide through its New York Times-bestselling book series and award-winning campaigns. In 2019, Girls Who Code was awarded Most Innovative Non-Profit by Fast Company.
In response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s moms, Reshma launched the Marshall Plan for Moms to advocate for policies that value women’s labor in and out of the home. Reshma has successfully worked with House and Senate leaders to introduce “Marshall Plan for Moms” legislation at the federal level and is continuing to act as an outside agitator to change culture through creative awareness campaigns. In 2023, Marshall Plan for Moms became Moms First, a reflection of the progress made in the last two years and a rallying cry to expand the movement we’re building together.
Reshma is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and Yale Law School. Her innovative approach to movement building has earned her broad recognition on lists including: Fortune World’s Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World; and Fast Company 100 Most Creative People, among others. She is the winner of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.
Reshma serves on the Board of Overseers for Harvard University and on the Board of Overseers for the International Rescue Committee, which provides aid to refugees and those impacted by humanitarian crises. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Economic Club of New York, and as an ex-officio Trustee of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their sons, Shaan and Sai, and their bulldog, Stanley.
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Shannon Taylor
Director, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources
JCPenney
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Shannon Taylor, a Global Talent Acquisition leader with over 16 years of experience in the Human Resources. Shannon's current role as the Director of Talent Acquisition at JCPenney puts him at the helm of the company's talent acquisition strategy, operations, and processes, making him a crucial contributor to the company's success.
Shannon’s extensive talent acquisition experience includes working for industry leaders such as Hard Rock International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Republic Services. Shannon has a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and has a SHRM -CP Certification.
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Jonathan Light
Attorney
LightGabler
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Jonathan Fraser Light has more than 40 years of experience in the field of employment law. He is AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating possible. He has been voted a Southern California “Super Lawyer” 18 times. As co-founder and managing partner at LightGabler LLP, Jon consults with almost 2,000 companies throughout California regarding their day-to-day employment law needs.
Jon has been successful in jury trials, appellate cases, Labor Commission hearings and binding arbitration claims involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment, race discrimination, class action wage & hour, and other employment-related matters. He has also appeared on behalf of employers before the federal EEOC and Labor Department, the state Civil Rights Department, the National Labor Relations Board, and other government agencies involved with employment law issues.
Jon speaks dozens of times a year to employer and human resources groups including chapters of the Employer Advisory Council, Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) and Society for Human Resource Management.
Jon graduated from the UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in history from UCLA and is a graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is the author of two editions of the nationally acclaimed and award-winning book, The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball.
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Jeffrey Frey
VP, Innovation
Abilene Christian University
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Dr. Jeff Frey, a seasoned global tech and innovation executive with 20+ years of leadership experience, is recognized for expertise in emotional intelligence (EI) and the future of work. Holding a Ph.D. in EI from the Weatherhead Business School at Case Western Reserve, an MBA from Rice Business, and a Masters in Computer Science from Kent State... he combines passions for profitable innovations and people development. He brings corporations profitable ventures, particularly on the human side of artificial intelligence (AI+EI). A sought-after speaker and consultant, he believes in the transformative power of tech, business, and EI for driving social impact.
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David Kelly
CEO
The Learning Guild
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As CEO of the Learning Guild, David Kelly constantly explores the convergence of learning and technology, demonstrating a profound commitment to transforming workplaces and enriching lives through innovative learning strategies. With over two decades of experience in learning and performance consulting, he brings his passion to life in his daily work building events and resources with the Guild and as a dynamic speaker and writer, inspiring others to view their work through a fresh, technology-enhanced lens.