In-person Pass

Dr. Yuvay Ferguson has a proven track record of consulting with global corporations to provide strategy around preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Her research centers on generational cohorts which gives her insight into how the characteristics of the groups impacts workplace culture and dynamics. Having recently served as an Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at Howard University’s School of Business before starting her consulting business, she holds a Bachelors degree in International Marketing from Howard University, a Masters Degree in Strategic Communication from American University, and completed her Ph.D. in Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin.

Melissa began her career in Big 4 accounting before transitioning to HR leadership at a rapidly expanding firm, experiencing a tenfold growth. Over 20 years, she has excelled in spearheading leadership development, performance management, team building, training, and employee engagement initiatives. Through her Inspire Big Dreams company, Melissa offers corporate training, leadership coaching, speaking, and consulting to enhance careers and leadership skills. She empowers executives, entrepreneurs, and companies to evolve by shifting their mindsets, strategizing, fostering employee relationships, preventing burnout, and amplifying leadership.

As a business, product, and technology leader, Delphine Carter uses transformational change and agile practices to solve complex business challenges. She is the founder and CEO of Boulo, an innovative recruitment platform that matches experienced female candidates, who also happen to be mothers or caregivers, with progressive companies. Delphine is on the Board of Storytellers Live, Vestavia Lacrosse Organization, and is a Women’s Foundation Fellow. She was recently named Top Birmingham Woman and nominated for CEO of the Year by the Birmingham Business Journal.

As a business, product, and technology leader, Delphine Carter uses transformational change and agile practices to solve complex business challenges. She is the founder and CEO of Boulo, an innovative recruitment platform that matches experienced female candidates, who also happen to be mothers or caregivers, with progressive companies. Delphine is on the Board of Storytellers Live, Vestavia Lacrosse Organization, and is a Women’s Foundation Fellow. She was recently named Top Birmingham Woman and nominated for CEO of the Year by the Birmingham Business Journal.

Miguel is the Chief Belonging Officer of MJA & CO, a Minority-owned consulting firm helping leaders leverage DEI as a catalyst to improve recruitment, engagement, and retention.  Recognized as a LinkedIn's Top Voice in Racial Equity, Top 15 Champion of Diversity by Diversity Global Magazine, a Top 100 Executive by Diversity MBA Magazine, and featured as an Inclusion Innovator by SHRM.

Miguel served as the first civilian Chief of D&I in the history of the US Coast Guard.  He started his career as diversity recruiter and for over a decade held several leadership positions in 3 major Federal Departments. Miguel is a TEDx speaker, featured at the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and Telemundo.

 You can learn more about him by visiting www.migueljoeyaviles.com

Kristen has dedicated her career to helping people prepare for the most significant milestone in life – retirement. She helps corporate plan sponsors and their retirement, investment and finance committees meet their fiduciary responsibilities; and strives to help their employees and beneficiaries make meaningful progress toward their financial goals. Kristen is co-head of the investment committee and leads the portfolio research team for her team’s institutional clients.

She also leads her team’s Women & Investing initiative. She understands that female investors often face a complicated financial situation, balancing the roles of mother, daughter, wife, grandmother, colleague and friend – while putting their own needs last. As part of this initiative, she plans and hosts educational events for female investors.

As a Chartered Financial Analyst®, Kristen holds one of the world’s most respected and recognized investment designations, giving her the skills needed for high-level, specialized asset-management responsibilities, including security analysis, portfolio management and business reporting. In 2020, Kristen obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, demonstrating her commitment to her profession.

Prior to joining Raymond James in 2015, she worked at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor for over twelve years and has prior experience as an investment banking analyst. Kristen maintains Series 7, 63, 66 and Life, Accident, & Health Insurance licenses.  She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University and currently resides in Congers, NY.

STEDMAN GRAHAM is a business advisor, chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates, a management and marketing consulting firm. He is the author of 12 books, including two New York Times best sellers and one Wall Street Journal bestseller. As a businessman, educator and speaker, Graham lectures and conducts training programs for corporations and educational organizations worldwide on the topic of Identity Leadership, based on the philosophy that one cannot lead anyone else until you first lead yourself. He has delivered Identity Leadership programs in The Netherlands, Germany, China, Canada, the UK, Bermuda and South Africa.

His proven Nine Step Success Process® drives his powerful message. This success process is based on the principle that it doesn’t matter how the world defines you, it only matters how you define yourself. Graham is honored as a distinguished visiting professor at colleges and universities throughout the country. He is a former adjunct professor at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Business where he taught the course, “The Dynamics of Leadership.” Graham’s clients include Gulfstream, Aerospace, Microsoft, Deloitte, Wells Fargo, Lenovo, General Dynamics and the US Department of Labor and Education.

As a proud native of Whitesboro, New Jersey, Graham has demonstrated an enduring dedication to youth and community. His New York Times best seller, Teens Can Make it Happen has become a program utilized in numerous middle and high schools in the US and abroad. With dedication to community development, Graham is the founder of the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and the Concerned Citizens of Lake Wacamaw, North Carolina. He is also the Co-founder of the Community Alliance for Youth Success (CAYS) and a member of Horatio Alger.

Stedman Graham has served in the United States Army and played professional basketball in the European League. Graham holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University and a Masters Degree in Education from Ball State University and has been awarded three honorary Doctorates. Graham serves on several boards and has received numerous awards.

Leah Marone, LCSW, is a seasoned psychotherapist and corporate mental wellness consultant based in Charlotte, NC, boasting over 20 years of extensive experience. Having conducted over 20,000 therapy sessions and contributing articles to reputable publications such as Psychology Today, The Atlantic, and Newsweek, Leah is recognized for her expertise in mental health.

Leah's personal journey as a former anxiety-ridden Division 1 basketball player fuels her passion for working with high-achieving individuals, often described as type A go-getters. She specializes in addressing internal pressures, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and performance anxiety.

In her dual role as a mental wellness consultant and board member, Leah collaborates with both companies and nonprofits. Her areas of focus encompass anxiety and stress management, burnout prevention, boundary setting, mindfulness practices, effective communication, and emotional intelligence. Leah's holistic approach includes a thorough assessment of the company culture to tailor her services, meeting organizations where they are and addressing their specific needs.

Leah's innovative 5-step initiative not only underscores the significance of mental wellness organization-wide but also identifies areas for growth and connection. The initiative aims to prevent high turnover, address burnout, and enhance overall productivity.

As a co-facilitator for the "Mindful Momentum" female empowerment coaching group tailored for high-powered female professionals, Leah collaborates with a distinguished coach and professor from UCLA. Her expertise in boundary setting and resilience has made her a sought-after speaker for leadership groups. Leah addresses individuals navigating perpetual burnout, often fueled by relentless inner critics and the challenges of people-pleasing. Her insights provide a transformative guide for cultivating resilience and establishing healthy boundaries in demanding professional environments.

Beyond her professional commitments, Leah finds joy in traveling, hiking, exercising, and pursuing her upcoming book slated for publication early next year. Additionally, she actively contributes as a coach for her daughter's club soccer team, showcasing her dedication to both personal and community well-being.

Carol Quinn is the world’s leading expert on interviewing and hiring effectiveness. She is the creator of motivation-based interviewing, an interviewing method specifically developed for hiring “High Performers.” She is the author of the #1 SHRM-published book on hiring – and it’s been their #1 best-seller on hiring for the past five years straight. She is passionate about making sure organizations and their interviewers know how to single out those job candidates who will go above and beyond from those merely pretending. But there is one thing that Carol is even more passionate about… and that’s sharing her wisdom with others.

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.  Michael concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country on subjects including harassment prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; combatting implicit bias; performance management; discipline and discharge; hiring and recruiting practices; performance evaluations; FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance; leave of absence policies; LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace; substance abuse testing; workplace violence; records retention; conducting background checks; and more. Michael also has conducted investigations into claims of harassment and discrimination and has drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and post-termination agreements. Michael regularly conducts in excess of 200 trainings each year.  He has represented clients throughout the country in EEO and other administrative proceedings.

Michael has been cited as a national authority on employment issues by The New York Times, The Associated Press, USA Today, MSNBC.com, HR Magazine, SHRM On-Line, Employment Law 360, Inside Counsel Magazine, as well as many other publications. Michael serves as an Advisory Board Member of GenHERation and as a Board Member of Serve, Inc. Michael is a 1997 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.