Insights + Inspiration Bundle (2025 Annual Conference)

Mary Stutts is the Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) where she leads the global mission to accelerate the advancement and impact of women in the business of healthcare and health equity.

Mary brings to the HBA 30 years of experience leading the strategic integration of corporate branding, marketing, health equity, inclusion, and digital innovation for biopharma, healthcare, and media companies. Her expertise and cross functional acumen have provided global leadership to organizations and Fortune 500 companies including Genentech, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sumitovant, UnitedHealth Group, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, and Comcast NBCUniversal.

Previously, Stutts was the Global Chief Inclusion and Health Equity Officer at Real Chemistry where she drove inclusion and equitable care for clients by integrating customized digital analytics and data intelligence to increase market penetration and clinical trial diversity.

Among her many accomplishments, as the former Chief Inclusion and Health Equity Officer at Stanford Health Care, Stutts worked directly with the board to curate the Inclusive Leadership Workshop which was designed to develop executives capable of leading, growing, and transforming organizations while addressing racial and social injustice and inequity amongst all stakeholders. Additionally, Stutts led Genentech’s $5 million Diversity in Clinical Trials initiative to increase the representation of people of color and women; enhanced a culture of workplace inclusion and health equity during Bristol Myers Squibb’s business model transformation; and oversaw fulfillment of the FCC’s digital equity conditions in Comcast’s California Region required for the acquisition of NBCUniversal.  

Stutts is a recognized advocate of women in leadership and has been at the forefront of board readiness programs to increase the representation of women and people of color on public and private corporate boards.

As an accomplished author, Mary’s new book, Recurring Themes of Exclusion in the Workplace, provides an in-depth analysis of ongoing exclusionary practices in the workplace and details the path needed to achieve true “inclusive diversity.” Her book The Missing Mentor:  Women Advising Women on Power, Progress and Priorities has been dubbed a surrogate mentor for women focused on career advancement.

Stutts earned a Master of Health Administration degree at the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Executive Program on Strategy and Organization at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Before joining AstraZeneca, Aradhana was CFO for Alexion, responsible for driving strategic growth, financial performance and business development. She brings operational experience in biopharma plus more than 20 years of experience at global financial institutions and has extensive knowledge of global healthcare systems, having closed 100+ transactions across M&A, equity and debt financing.

Before Alexion, Aradhana was Managing Director of Healthcare Corporate and Investment Banking at Citi Global Banking, focusing on clients in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Healthcare Investment Banking at UBS, and worked at JP Morgan in the M&A Advisory and Healthcare groups. Aradhana trained as a medical doctor in India and spent two years practicing in India and Africa. She completed her medical training at the University of Delhi and received her MBA from Stanford Business School.

Other appointments: Board of Governors, American Red Cross; Independent Director, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Jim Weiss, Chairman and Founder of Real Chemistry, is celebrated for his steadfast allyship and decades-long commitment to advancing women’s leadership in healthcare.   

Over the last 24 years, Jim has evolved Real Chemistry into a global health innovation company that uses AI, real-world analytics and insights and proprietary technology to help solve the healthcare industry’s greatest challenges. A lifelong advocate for mentorship, Jim fosters opportunities for women at all careers stages, actively encouraging participation in leadership roles with organizations like the HBA. He has been deeply involved with the HBA for more than 15 years as an advisor and sponsor, and most recently, as a board member.   

Jim has been recognized as Agency Entrepreneur of the Year, a Top 50 Health Influencer and Innovator of the Year. In addition to his role as an advisor to the HBA, he is also a board member and contributor to several nonprofits led by women, including the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Cancer Research Institute, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and The American Cancer Society’s BrightEdge Philanthropic Impact Fund. Jim is also a member of the Executive Advisory Council of former American Cancer Society CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen. 

As lifelong mentors and leaders in education, Jim and his wife Audra founded the Weiss Center at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2012. The center focuses on equipping students who will one day lead the communications industry with cutting-edge skills and insights, helping them stand out in the workforce. 

Dr. Otis Johnson is the Founder of Trial Equity, whose purpose is to ensure that medicines are safe and effective for all people by providing solutions for diverse patient recruitment in clinical trials.

Recognized for his leadership by Pharmavoice, Informa Connect and Mogul, he has served on the diversity advisory boards of the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). He is also on the advisory board of Wake Forest University’s Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research Management and a Global Advisory Board Member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA).

Mr. Jacopo Leonardi is the Chief Executive Officer of 4D Path, a company focused on revolutionizing cancer care with the development of a next generation tumor response prediction platform to personalize care for each patient. He is a proven life science C-suite executive with a 30-year track record of accelerating growth for new ventures and established businesses in Immunology, Rare Diseases, Oncology, and Neuroscience. Mr. Leonardi’s cross-functional leadership and impact spans early-stage discovery research through clinical development, and commercial launch with several industry-leading life science companies including Baxalta, Baxter, Eli Lilly, and J&J as well as early-stage startups.

In addition to his CEO duties at 4D Path, Mr. Leonardi serves as a Venture Advisor to Agent Capital, a Healthcare Advisor to CVC Capital Partners, and on the Boards of 4D Path, AIS Healthcare, and Versiti. Prior to his most recent roles, Mr. Leonardi served on boards and in executive leadership across multiple companies including Baxalta (NYSE: BXLT), a $6B global biopharmaceutical company, where he was Executive Vice President and President of Immunology leading a fast growing $2.6B Global Division.

He was recognized by Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine as a 2015 Emerging Leader and by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) as the 2016 HBA Honorable Mentor of the Year for his dedication to the development and advancement of women in leadership. Mr. Leonardi received his MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Bachelor of Science from Rutgers College, where he was recognized as a Henry Rutgers Honors Scholar.

Reshema Kemps-Polanco, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Novartis U.S., is celebrated as Woman of the Year for her transformative leadership in commercializing innovative medicines and championing equitable access to treatments for some of the world’s most serious diseases. Her unwavering dedication to nurturing future industry leaders is evident through her active sponsorship, mentorship and creation of pathways for women to ascend to executive roles across the life sciences industry. Reshema’s impact-driven leadership inspires teams to demonstrate uncommon courage and redefine what is possible, helping more patients live longer and healthier lives.  

With over 25 years in the industry, spanning two top 10 global pharmaceutical companies, Reshema leads Novartis’ end-to-end commercial expansion of medicines across oncology, immunology, neurology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. She is driving a transformational growth strategy to help Novartis maintain its leading position in the world's largest healthcare market. Prior to rejoining Novartis in 2021, Reshema spent seven years at Johnson & Johnson where she held multiple leadership positions, most recently serving concurrently as President, Cardiovascular & Metabolism and President, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Puerto Rico. Reshema began her career at Novartis, where she spent 15 years in roles of increasing responsibility. 

With over 30 years of experience in Fortune 100 and Private Equity-owned enterprises, Bridgette Heller has a proven track record of driving organizational excellence globally. She is currently the Co-founder and CEO of the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation, dedicated to improving literacy in reading, math, and science for underserved students in South St. Petersburg, Florida.

Previously, Bridgette served as EVP and President at Nutricia (Danone), Merck Consumer Care, Johnson & Johnson’s Global Baby Division, CEO of Chung’s Gourmet Foods, and held multiple roles at Kraft Foods.

Bridgette serves on the boards of Aramark, Dexcom, Integral Ad Sciences, Novartis, and Newman’s Own, participating actively in Audit, Compensation, and Nominating & Governance committees. She also serves on the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete and Northwestern University boards.

Bridgette earned her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management and her BA from Northwestern University. She resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Marian Mutch MSc, VP Global Quality Office at Fortrea is a results-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in enhancing organisational value through strategic quality management and analytics in a highly regulated industry. She has a proven track record in leading transformational enterprise quality systems and successfully managing transition strategies for teams in low-cost centers. Experienced in functional integration, spin-off, and divestiture activities, along with a commitment to continuous process improvement and Adept at collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to implement innovative solutions. She has held global roles in the CRO and Pharma industries working in the UK, China, India and US.

She is passionate about developing, coaching, and mentoring talent to drive team success and organizational growth. Marian has held mulitple member leadership roles with the HBA including 2025 WOTY Co-Chair, 2024 3BC Co-Chair, is an Advisor on the Ambassador Program, a mentor on the SPRINT program, an Indianapolis Chapter Board member and she manages the HBA Corporate Partnership for Fortrea. She is a Board member for Pass the Torch For Women (PTTFW) a not for profit organisation who's mission is empowering women through mentoring, connecting and investing in them at all stages of their careers.

Janine is a seasoned HR & Diversity Leader with over twenty years of experience across Finance, Law, & Healthcare. Her expertise spans Diversity Strategy, Talent Management, Recruitment, HR Strategy, Development & Employee Engagement. She was recently featured as a contributing author for the book "Latinas Rising up In HR" and was elected to the Board of Education in Mahwah, NJ (2024-2026).

As the first in her family to pursue a college education she advocates for educational attainment and career advancement of marginalized groups. She frequently supports students and professionals through mentoring, coaching, and public speaking on key career topics. She has held several board positions, including, Inclusivity Chair – New York City SHRM, Prospanica New York (President), Latino U College Access (Board Advisor), and as the Past President for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Alumni Association’s New York Chapter.

Janine holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Communications and Political Science from Emmanuel College. She also has two certificates from Cornell on Diversity and Inclusion for HR and Strategic Human Resources Leadership. Janine is certified in administering the Intercultural Development Inventory cultural assessment for individuals and groups. She us currently completing a coaching certification to achieve her ACC and ICF credentials.

Janine currently resides in Northern New Jersey where she is raising her three children.

With 18 years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries—including the past six at Otsuka—Kristina brings a diverse background spanning patient services, operations, training, and leadership development. A consistent thread throughout her career has been a deep passion for mentoring others and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Kristina designed and led the Market Access Academy programs, which enhanced managed care acumen and built confidence across the organization. In her current role as Director of Leadership Development, she oversees second-line leader development and a high-potential leadership program, both aimed at cultivating the next generation of impactful leaders.

Beyond her professional work, Kristina is an active member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) and is dedicated to advancing women in leadership across the industry.

Asha Hope joined Bayer in May 2023 as the Head and VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Norh America where she is driving sustainable and transformational change by integrating DE&I into business processes and throughout the total employee lifecycle.

With a dynamic, results-driven approach, Asha has a track record of building inclusive workplaces. She transitioned from engineering to HR, leveraging her strategic mindset. Before Bayer, Asha led global DE&I efforts at DoorDash, developing strategies to improve representation and embedding DE&I into core processes. She previously held leadership roles at Amazon, Macy’s, and Coca-Cola, working to make an positive impact on businesses and communities.

Asha holds a MPS in HR from Penn State, a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Alabama A&M. She hails from East St. Louis, IL, and enjoys traveling, live music, and spending time with her family.

Jenny Sheng is an innovative pharmaceutical marketer and strategist. She left her role in Big Pharma to found Innomaven and ensure that the end-user perspective is integrated into healthcare innovations. Innomaven has garnered recent recognition including the EY Mover’s & Makers Aware for its innovation, impact, and dedication to the patient. Additionally, Jenny is the Deputy Chair of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Global Patient Centricity Affinity Group, where she was recently recognized with the Marie Curie Innovation Award. Jenny also sits on the Advisory Council for Women In Innovation (WIN).
She has over 15 years of experience across management consulting, Pfizer, and Novartis in a variety of roles in Marketing, Innovation, Commercial & Launch Excellence, as well as New Product Planning. Jenny holds an MBS in Business of Bioscience from KGI, BS in Psychobiology from UCLA, and multiple certificates in Leadership Principles, Design Strategy, and Human-Centered Healthcare.

Joseph Collins (BA, MA, MBA) has spent his career within the pharmaceutical industry. His current role is Vice President, Medical Intelligence, Patient Insights and Solutions at Astellas Pharmaceuticals. Joe manages teams tasked with ensuring the perspectives and insights of patients and healthcare providers are considered in all phases of drug development and commercialization globally at Astellas. Prior to joining Astellas, Joe spent time at Sanofi and Roche Pharmaceuticals. At Sanofi he held leadership roles within multiple functions including Commercial Operations, Research and Development and Patient Centricity in both the Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals business units.

Joe graduated from the University of Scranton in 1990 with dual Bachelor and Masters degrees and received his Masters in Business Administration from Villanova University in 2007.

Giles Platford is president of the Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, which researches and delivers critical life-transforming medicines used to treat a variety of rare and complex chronic diseases.

Giles also serves as the current global chair of the board for the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, which represents the private sector manufacturers of plasma protein therapies.

Giles joined Takeda in 2009 as general manager of Brazil, and later took on the role of area head for Middle East, Turkey & Africa. He then joined the Takeda Executive Team in 2014 as president of Emerging Markets. In 2017, he became president of Europe & Canada, where he also represented Takeda as a board member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.

Prior to joining Takeda, Giles spent eight years in Asia Pacific, where he held a number of roles of increasing responsibility in Business Development, Commercial and General Management.

Giles holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and marketing management from Oxford Brookes University, UK, and is currently based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Dr. Kinnari Patel, most recently a President, Head of R&D and Chief Operating Officer for Rocket Pharma, has more than 20 years of Pharma/Biotech experience in rare diseases and across several therapeutic areas including immuno-oncology, oncology, respiratory, virology, transplantation, cardiology and metabolism. Before joining Rocket, Dr. Patel gained deep industry experience at leading pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and Hoffmann La-Roche. She has led both small molecule and biologic development programs from Phase I through Phase IV.

Dr. Patel received the dual degrees of B.S. in Biology and Doctorate of Pharmacy from the USciences in Philadelphia, PA and an Executive MBA from NYU Stern School of Business with specialization in Corporate Finance, Leadership and Strategy. She also completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Regulatory Affairs Fellowship through Rutgers University with Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Most recently, she graduated from the C-Suite Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Beyond her dedication to Rocket, Dr. Patel is a member of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine’s (ARM) Board of Directors and serves on the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Global Advisory Board. She has devoted her life to helping others through fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and advocating for female business leaders. In addition, Dr. Patel is deeply committed to making a positive impact in advancing science for rare diseases and has been widely recognized as a fearless advocate for patients and their loved ones impacted by these devastating conditions across the globe.

Stacey DeFilippo, MS, MBA, RD is an Associate Director at Novo Nordisk, where she grows and engages people and builds strategic capabilities for Market Access/Public Affairs, Rare Disease, and Patient Solutions. In addition, she currently leads enterprise-wide inclusive leadership initiatives. With a background in clinical education and commercial strategy, she has driven measurable improvements in employee experience, learning outcomes, and organizational culture.

Stacey currently co-leads the HBA Global Ambassador Program Inclusive Leadership project team and serves as Global Chair of the HBA Women in Healthcare Give Back Affinity Group. Her leadership spans personal, organizational, and community impact—advancing health equity and empowering others to lead with purpose.

She holds advanced degrees in nutrition and business and brings over 20 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian and healthcare leader committed to shaping a more inclusive and patient-centered future.

Roselyn is a principal in the People Advisory Services practice at EY and the Work Reimagined solution leader.

She has nearly 30 years of experience with EY, Aon, Towers Perrin and PwC serving clients in a range of industries including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, pharma/ biotech, technology, and utilities.

Roselyn specializes in workforce planning, organization, and total rewards strategy, transformation, wellbeing, mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of culture, change management and communications work.

Roselyn has led a range of thought leadership studies on human capital and rewards issues Her most recent study is the 2025 Work Reimagined study of 15k employees and 1500 employers and is the 6th in its series and includes a focus on Gen AI and how technology is impacting Talent Advantage.

In addition to hear client work, Roselyn is a frequent speaker at conferences and webcasts on the future of work, workforce analytics, total rewards, financial wellbeing, and aging workforce at leadership events including AICPA, Conference Board, World at Work, EY webcasts and industry events.

Roselyn has a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from College of Insurance St. John’s University (1993), is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (2000).

With his prior experience as President at Havas Health & You and as Managing Partner for Grey Health Group, Mr Lewis brings over 2 decades of recruitment, client management, and healthcare agency experience to Calcium+Company. Mr Lewis believes in Calcium+Company's vision as a leading independent agency driving agile client solutions, and knows that Calcium+Company's catered business approach will help this vision flourish. In addition, Mr Lewis has an understanding of the agency’s work ethic and company culture. Mr. Lewis holds a dual major in Political Science and Communications from Villanova University, and has participated in executive education programs at Harvard University and Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business.

Hannah is a force for cultural transformation, inclusion and innovation. Her passion? Reimagining the way people experience work.

As Chief Culture & People Experience Officer, she is committed to ensuring Novartis's symbols, systems and processes evolve to meet the needs and expectations of its people - creating the conditions for everyone to belong and perform at their best.

A strategic communicator, bold design thinker and advocate for talent development, Hannah designs programs and experiences that transform mindsets and behaviors, making change not just possible, but sustainable.
Having played a leading role in Novartis cultural transformation, she continues to bridge culture and business strategy, challenging the status quo, to help Novartis unlock its performance edge through its greatest resource: its people.

Hannah has also helped position Novartis as a globally recognized ‘great place to work’. Her contributions have enhanced Novartis’s reputation globally, helping the organization attract and retain exceptional talent from around the world.

Linda Acholonu is a seasoned clinical research and drug development expert with 24 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. As Project Director at Fortrea, she leads global Phase I–IV clinical trials, driving innovation and operational excellence across diverse therapeutic areas. Her work bridges science and strategy, advancing treatments that improve patient outcomes worldwide.

In addition to her industry leadership, Linda serves as adjunct faculty at the George Washington University School of Business, where she teaches in the Healthcare MBA program. She brings real-world insight into the classroom, preparing future healthcare leaders to navigate complex challenges with clarity and purpose.

Linda is widely recognized for her commitment to mentorship, entrepreneurship, and advancing women in healthcare. She actively cultivates inclusive environments where emerging professionals—especially women—can thrive, grow, and lead. Through mentoring, speaking engagements, and organizational leadership, she empowers others to unlock their potential and pursue meaningful careers in life sciences.

An engaged leader in the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), Linda was honored as a 2024 HBA Rising Star. As Vice President of the HBA Washington DC Metro Chapter, she leads strategic initiatives that promote professional development, inclusive leadership, and community engagement, helping shape a more equitable future for the industry.

LeAnna J. Carey is the CEO and President of Women Who Innovate, LLC, a company focused on providing strategic guidance to startup companies from idea creation to launch. To date, Lea has launched five companies. As a result of her successful track record over the span of over 15 years, Lea has chaired Start Up Company and Entrepreneur of the Year competition panels for both the World Congress and Healthcare Unbound, in Washington DC and San Francisco.
Her e-book, The Power of Co-Creation in Healthcare Innovation is a blueprint on growth, agility, and co-creation, as it was written on a digital collaboration platform with international thought leaders. During her time in Washington DC, she led the launch of the Growth Strategy Co. digital campaign for the published book, Growth Thinking. She led the digital campaign for How Stella Saved the Farm, a #1 Wall Street Journal Best Seller, #5 New York Times Best Seller, #1 USA Today Best Seller, #1 Barnes and Noble Best Seller, #1 Amazon Business Best Seller.
Lea served on the Global Board of Directors of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association which represents over twenty thousand members. Following her HBA board service, she began her two-year term as President of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County including oversight of their Foundation.
Lea is certified in both Executive Women's Leadership from Yale University, Executive Presence and Influence from the Wharton School of Executive Education and is an IPEC Certified Professional Coach focused on Transformational Leadership.
As an experienced innovation workshop leader, TEDMED moderator, and keynote speaker on topics focused on Transformational Leadership, the innovation process, entrepreneurship, and gender equity at well-known venues such as the National Press Club, World Congress, Front End of Innovation, and Foresight and Trends.

Carolina Amador, PhD, is a biotech strategy professional with extensive experience in R&D strategy and operations, competitive intelligence, and pipeline strategy. She has held key roles at Roche, BioMarin, and Amgen. Currently, she serves as Chief of Staff for R&D, supporting the senior leadership team at Amgen.
Carolina earned her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Southern California and is an active contributor to the biotech community through her involvement with non-profits such as HBA, AWIS, and Biotech Connection LA. She is also a passionate advocate for women’s health, policy reform, and workplace equity.
Outside of work, Carolina enjoys cooking dinner with her husband, listening to music, and spending time with their son and cat.

With a passion for transformation and empowerment, she has earned a reputation as a dynamic keynote speaker and masterful facilitator, captivating audiences with thoughtprovoking insights and real world actionable strategies

Dr. Brown has almost 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, where she has excelled in various leadership roles, including Medical Research, Director of Training, Sales and Marketing and currently, Healthcare Market Director. With pride, she is also dedicated Health Equity Ambassador, advocating for inclusivity and access within the healthcare landscape.

In addition, she is the founder and CEO of the A.Patrice Group, a premier consulting firm, based in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. As the creator of "Unleash Your Superpowers", her platform is designed to help individuals identify and harness their individual gifts and talents, unlocking their full potential in an effort to make a meaningful impact on society.

An active member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association for the last several years, Dr. Brown was the lead of the inaugural HBA Ambassador program at Genentech in 2022 and has co-led the program over the last several years. Due to her leadership over 80
participants have graduated from the program leading to over 40% of those participants moving into leadership roles and/or roles of greater responsibility. Dr. Brown was also the co-lead for the HBA Woman of the Year event in 2024 where she helped shape the event through
innovative ideas and approaches.

Dr. Brown holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. In addition to her professional career, she also serves as an adjunct business professor at Collin College in North Texas, furthering her commitment to education and leadership development.

Rose is a digital transformation professional with a biomedical analytics research background, portfolio and strategic management experience. In her early career, she worked at Merck in the laboratory setting developing imaging and multi-modal signatures of drug efficacy, disease progression and safety profiles in pre-clinical models and clinical/translational studies. From there she moved to the pharma PMO setting, where to this day, she manages complex R&D digital transformation projects and organizational change initiatives. Rose has also served as a strategic management and business development consultant, and the managing director of RoseCeutics LLC, where as the principal, she has won grants to support her research in her native island of Barbados. Rose earned her B.S. in Physics from Dillard University where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences where she also graduated summa cum laude. She is certified in Project Management and is a Six Sigma Green Belt. Rose has founded and led multiple business ventures and served on several non-profit boards. Her volunteer and board activities include work with Dillard University, the Melton Foundation, UNCF, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, the Olympians Swim Club, the Barbados Cruising Club and the Rotary Club of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Rose has won numerous awards for her contributions to scientific research, community development and for her volunteer efforts. Rose and her two daughters call both Pennsylvania and Barbados, home.

Celeste Warren is a visionary leader who had an impressive 28-year tenure at Merck, where she rose to the esteemed position of Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. After her retirement, Celeste founded Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she passionately continues her mission to reshape the landscape of diversity and inclusion.

In addition to her consulting work, Celeste, alongside her two children, established Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vital resources and support to students of color and those in need pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Recognized internationally for her pivotal contributions, Celeste has been recognized for her work in diversity, equity and inclusion including:
• Black Enterprise’s “Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion”
• Diversity Global Magazine’s “Influential Women in Global Diversity”
• National Minority Supplier Development Council’s 2024 Chief Diversity Officer of the Year.

Celeste is a published author and her latest book "The Truth About Equity, What It Really Is, What It Isn't and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right" is available now. Her articles on diversity, equity and inclusion have been featured in numerous national and global publications and she has had the opportunity to speak on diversity, equity and inclusion at various events across the world.

She is the wife of John Warren and the mother of two children, Christina-Celeste and John Steven, Jr.

Jackie Ejuwa, PharmD, MHL is the President & CEO of Transformative Blue Health Advisors, where she brings over 30 years of leadership in healthcare systems, pharmacy benefit management, and payor organizations. She partners with healthcare startups and organizations to integrate innovation into legacy systems, strengthen operations, and achieve sustainable, regulatory-aligned growth. Previously, she was Vice President, Health Transformative & Health Equity at Blue Shield of California.
Dr. Ejuwa is recognized for her multi-dimensional approach to healthcare transformation, combining strategy, operations, and clinical insight with a strong commitment to health equity. Known as a positive disruptor, she anticipates challenges, simplifies complexity, and builds trusted relationships while championing more accessible, affordable, and consumer-centered care. Her leadership extends to serving as a board advisor for healthcare startups, an advisory council member for an eldercare living community, and a board member of the San Francisco Community Health Center.
Dr. Ejuwa holds a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy, a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida, as well as an Executive Master of Healthcare Leadership from Brown University. She is the Founder and President of EmpowerHER Impact Network, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the professional development of immigrant and first-generation women leaders, and is an active speaker, mentor, coach, and aspiring author.

With over 25 years of operational and management experience leading cross- functional teams at a range of clinically focused companies across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, Christina brings a unique ability to unify diverse groups under a cohesive vision.Throughout her career, she has partnered with empowered
healthcare companies to refine strategy, optimize structure, and accelerategrowth—always with the ultimate goal of improving patient lives worldwide.

Christina’s leadership has been instrumental in navigating complex acquisitions and integrating multinational teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Her vision extends beyond today’s challenges, striving to build a more agile, patient-centric industry that

fosters innovation, accessibility, and long-term impact on a global scale.

She holds a BS in biology from Yale University and an MBA from The Wharton
School.

Kimberly is President and CEO of Butler/Till and brings decades of experience in both B2B and B2C marketing across many industries, including Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services, BevAlc, Automotive, Franchise, Insurance, Consumer Products, Automative, Energy, and Retail. She previously worked at McCann Erickson, Bausch + Lomb, and the Wolf Group. Kimberly has contributed to work that has won industry accolades, including multiple Effie, American Advertising Awards, Adweek, Ad Age, INC., and Pinnacle Awards. Kimberly is an esteemed thought leader in the marketing and advertising space having been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, MM+M, and Ad Age to name a few. Her expertise has landed her numerous speaking opportunities at events like SXSW, Cannes, and Adweek NY. Kimberly has served on the Board of Directors at Bivona Child Advocacy Center and the Young Presidents’ Organization. She is also a winner of Rochester’s “Forty Under 40 Award,” and “Women of Excellence” both of which honor those who exhibit a unique combination of business and community leadership.

Kimberly’s key competencies are:
• Business strategy
• Media strategy
• Innovation
• Leadership

Since joining Butler/Till 15 years ago, Kimberly has played an instrumental role in the company’s growth. Under Kimberly’s leadership, Butler/Till has reached impressive milestones, including becoming a Certified B Corporation, transitioning to a 100% employee-owned company, maintained its WEBNC certification (proudly a women-owned enterprise since 2004), and earned recognition as a “Top Workplace” for 10+ consecutive years—most recently on the Ad Age Best Places to Work list, ranked #6.

Kimberly serves as the Empire State Chapter Chair and as a Regional Board Member for the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Kimberly has a bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, and attends annual Executive Education at the Harvard Business School.

Carmen White serves as the US & Global Health Equity Lead as a part of Pfizer’s Oncology Patient Solutions and Alliances group in the Oncology Division. As Pfizer works to Outdo Cancer and follow through on its commitment to patients to minimize barriers to care and access, Carmen works to empower communities and close health gaps through cohesive, sustainable, and scalable approaches to health equity, and helps make breakthroughs available to cancer patients no matter who they are or where they live.
She previously led multicultural participant experience in the R&D division and has patient engagement, clinical trial and healthcare communications experience serving the public sector, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry.
She has led and supported HCP, patient advocacy, and clinical trials initiatives for various sponsors in multiple therapeutic areas and developed protocol review, public awareness, and community outreach programs for companies and a leading multi-center comprehensive cancer center.

Marina Hong is a bold and transformational HR executive with over 25 years of global experience across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. As Senior Vice President & Head of Human Resources for North America and Global Enabling Functions at Bayer, she leads HR strategy for over 37,000 employees and supports more than $15 billion in business impact across Bayer’s key divisions.

Marina is recognized for her empathetic leadership and deep commitment to building inclusive, human-centered workplaces. She was a key architect of Bayer’s global operating model transformation (Dynamic Shared Ownership), championing agile practices, dynamic shared ownership, and leadership development to shape the future of work.

Beyond Bayer, Marina serves on the Board of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, where she leads the HR sub-board and co-chairs the Inclusion sub-board, advancing equity and purpose-driven leadership in the nonprofit sector.

A passionate advocate for customer and people-first transformation, Marina brings powerful insights into leading with authenticity, navigating change, and cultivating cultures of trust, agility, and inclusion.

Bob is Founder & Chair of The Next Practices Group, a “nextwork” of founder-driven consulting firms centered in marketing, communications and corporate affairs with a focus on healthcare.

He has played a key role in building two media firms that are ranked in the top 50 worldwide (GCI Health and Real Chemistry), he led the creation of the Fortune 500’s first global social media function at Dell and he has served as a global leader in communications at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer (now Sanofi) and Novartis, as well as Dell.

Bob is an author of five books, including the recently released Firm Beliefs; he is a lecturer for The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and he teaches on how to combat mis and disinformation for the US Government. He has served on the Defense Science Board (US Department of Defense) and was part of a working team that studied the global semiconductor industry in support of the recent CHIPS Act.

Srideepti (Sri) Ramayanam is a recognised leader in healthcare business and data analytics, currently serving as President for Members and Volunteers at the HBA, EMEA, Emerging Locations. She is celebrated for her strategic leadership, her commitment to advancing women in healthcare, and her active engagement across the European healthcare ecosystem. With a background spanning executive roles in organisations such as argenx, Cordavis, and Novartis, Sri brings a passion for connecting and empowering professionals, driving transformative initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is a frequent speaker at leading events, most recently representing data and AI innovation at the Dublin AI Conference 2025 and is known for championing AI-driven solutions within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Sri’s approach blends deep technical expertise with a collaborative ethos, inspiring teams and individuals alike. Her career is marked by an ability to bridge new technologies, foster cross-border partnerships, and empower the next generation of leaders. Colleagues cite her for constant guidance and support, reinforcing her impact as a mentor and advocate for a thriving, equitable workforce. At the HBA Annual Conference, Sri continues her mission to amplify voices and drive meaningful change across the global healthcare landscape.

Deepa is a business leader with more than two decades of experience in the Healthcare industry. She is a homoeopathic physician and an INSEAD alumni with an extensive international exposure and a track record of achieving impressive results in leading cross-functional teams, driving strategic initiatives, and achieving growth in diverse markets.

Currently, she runs her consultancy services, D Cube Consultancy, which has people & business transformation at its core. She uses her deep understanding of global business dynamics and a talent for building effective, culturally diverse teams to support her customers. Deepa also volunteers for the Healthcare Businesswomen Association as their India Chapter Lead and Senior Global Director for the Ambassador Program. She also volunteers as an Advisor at Loyal VC.

Prior to this, she was as a Senior Vice President and Country Head, India at LabCorp Drug Development/Fortrea, where she worked closely with all global service lines as well as regional markets to define, prioritize and implement business plans in India. One of her primary focuses was to help the Organization to spin out their Clinical development business successfully and seamlessly.
Deepa has spent nearly two decades serving in various global lead roles at IQVIA. In the earlier decades, Deepa developed IQVIA’s Cardiac Safety business, led the Core Clinical Global Delivery Network and Quality Departments, continuously expanding her remit of operation and influence and being on front lines of transformational changes. During this time, she was awarded the prestigious Healthcare Businesswomen Association’s Luminary Award. She was also honored as 2020 PharmaVOICE 100 list recognition for being an inspirational Change Agent in the Life Sciences industry and making a difference.

As a leader, Deepa is focused on fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion and is committed to mentoring colleagues within the industry & outside, via various programs. She works with her customers by enabling diverse and inclusive organization culture to best represent leadership vision.

Tanusha is a versatile leader with proven industry experience of over two decades. In her current role with Fortrea as the Executive Director, Clinical Data Management, Tanusha leads the global data management operations. Tanusha is the proud recipient of LabCorp’s first Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Rising Star Award in 2020.

Tanusha is an active volunteer of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association and also represents the HBA India Regional Board. As she completes 5 years with HBA, she remains deeply committed to advancing initiatives that promote gender equality and the development of strong, collaborative networks that drive the future of healthcare and help advance the next generation of women leaders. She has participated in several industry forums/panel discussions to advocate for HBA and impact the future of women in the workplace. Prior to joining Fortrea (formerly Labcorp), Tanusha has held numerous other leadership positions across the CRO, BPO and ITeS industries.