Changemakers
April 18, 2024⎮New York City

CNBC Changemakers 2024

The inaugural Changemakers Summit: Women Transforming Business celebrates the ground-breaking honorees from the first annual CNBC Changemakers list.

Join us to hear from this year’s Changemakers and other special guests sharing how they are reshaping business and redefining leadership.

Conversations led by CNBC anchors will discuss these inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles, and showcase actionable ideas to achieve structural change within organizations and industries.

For more on the CNBC Changemakers, visit cnbc.com/cnbc-changemakers.

Speakers

Gina Raimondo

Gina M. Raimondo serves as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on a simple but vital mission — to spur good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help American workers and businesses compete.

Secretary Raimondo was formerly the 75th Governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor. She grew up in Smithfield in a tight-knit Italian-American family, the youngest of Joseph and Josephine Raimondo's three children. Her family history and her childhood experiences shaped her core beliefs in hard work, opportunity for all, and the importance of financial security.

After arriving from Italy at age 14, Secretary Raimondo’s grandfather learned English studying in the Providence Public Library and later lived with her family. Her mother was a homemaker, who dedicated her life to teaching her children about the importance of hard work and determination. Her father was a World War II Navy veteran from a family of butchers and became the first in his family to attend college thanks to the GI Bill. After working for 26 years in manufacturing, Joseph lost his job along with hundreds of others when the factory moved overseas, and the Raimondo family lost their sense of financial security.

As a teenager, Secretary Raimondo rode a public bus to LaSalle Academy in Providence, where she was valedictorian of her graduating class. She went on to graduate with honors from Harvard, where she was recognized as the top economics student in her class. She won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she earned a doctorate and met her future husband Andy Moffit. She later graduated from Yale Law School. Secretary Raimondo clerked for US District Judge Kimba Wood and served as founding employee and senior vice president at Village Ventures.

Wanting to start her own business and be close to family, she returned home to Rhode Island and founded Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm. In November 2010, Secretary Raimondo was elected to serve as General Treasurer of Rhode Island, receiving the largest number of votes of any statewide candidate. When she took office as General Treasurer, she tackled the state's $7 billion unfunded pension liability. Secretary Raimondo was sworn into office as Governor in January 2015 and won a second term in 2018. She also served as chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association in 2019.

During her time as Governor, Secretary Raimondo kick-started the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training. She focused tirelessly on creating economic opportunities and good-paying jobs for all Rhode Islanders. Early in her administration, she launched an innovative workforce development program that develops business-led partnerships to address unique workforce challenges.

Secretary Raimondo is married to Andy Moffit and they have two children, Ceci and Tommy, and a rescue dog, Sparky.

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, the first Black woman to be promoted to the position in the company's 75-year history in 2015. She has performed some of the most iconic classical ballet roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake; Juliet in Romeo & Juliet; Giselle; Manon; Coppelia; Kitri in Don Quixote; and Firebird, to name a few.

Misty has been featured in several publications, including the cover of Time Magazine for the Time 100, as well as the covers of ESSENCE, Self, ELLE South Africa, Oxygen and Women’s Health. She has also appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's The Today Show and Little Big Shots, celebrating extraordinary young people.

She made her first awards season guest performances in 2019 with Taylor Swift at the American Music Awards and at the 2020 Grammy Awards alongside Camilla Cabella, Common, Ben Platt, and dancers from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, as well as the televised Prince Grammy Tribute performing with award-winning recording artist H.E.R. Misty made her Broadway debut in On The Town in 2015 and her major motion picture debut in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms in 2018. She is also featured in an episode of MasterClass, the online series.

Misty started her production company, Life In Motion Productions, focused on bringing representative stories of artists past, present, and future, and normalizing the arts experience. Her first independently produced project, Flower, premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2023 and is a silent arts activism film using dance to help raise awareness about intergenerational equity.

Misty is an avid philanthropist and is an ambassador of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also an alum, and MindLeaps, an arts education program based in Rwanda that helps young people get off the streets and into an academic setting to help enhance their lives.

In 2022, Misty launched The Misty Copeland Foundation, with its first signature program BE BOLD, which aims to bring greater diversity, equity and inclusion to dance, especially ballet. In 2023, she launched the women’s line of Greatness Wins, an athletic wear business she co-founded with Derek Jeter and Chris Riccobono.

Misty is the New York Times bestselling author of Life In Motion, Ballerina Body, Black Ballerinas, and a picture book titled Bunheads. She is also author of the award-winning children's picture book, Firebird. Misty’s newest book, The Wind At My Back, in tribute to her late mentor and friend, pioneering ballerina Raven Wilkinson, published November 2022.

In 2021, Misty was the recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor and in 2023, she received the Trailblazer Icon Award at The Grio Awards, was named for the second time to The Root 100, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from New York University. In 2024, Misty received the Innovator Award from the African American Film Critics Association.

Priscilla Sims Brown

Priscilla Sims Brown is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Amalgamated Bank. Ms. Brown is a multi-national board director and C-suite executive with 30 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining Amalgamated Bank she was the Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where she focused on rebuilding trust and pride in the bank with direct responsibility for end-to-end marketing, branding, stakeholder insights, government and public affairs, and environment and social policy.

Prior to Commonwealth Bank, Ms. Brown held senior positions at AXA Financial, Inc., Sun Life Financial, and Lincoln Financial Group. She has advised several digital startups and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Emerge.me, a digital health insurance broker.

She was a member of the AXA Financial US Executive Committee, serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), where she directed all aspects of US marketing and led global digital marketing initiatives. Prior to AXA Financial, Ms. Brown served as CMO at AmeriHealth/Caritas, where she developed a new go-to-market strategy for the largest Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medicaid company in response to the Affordable Care Act. At Sun Life, Ms. Brown served as CMO and Chief Strategist, where she negotiated and managed Sun Life Stadium naming rights, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl and other major events with the Miami Dolphins NFL football team.

During her 18-year tenure at Lincoln Financial Group, Ms. Brown held numerous leadership positions where she integrated acquired companies, established new businesses and led the consumer brand. She established the firm’s first investment management profit center, targeting midsized insurance companies. She also started and chaired Lincoln’s first family of standalone mutual funds and served as president of the broker-dealer. Ms. Brown also led the investor relations function, before expanding her responsibilities to include corporate and strategic marketing.

For the past three years, she served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (‘TIAA’), a US Fortune 100 financial services firm with over $1.2 trillion in assets under management. She served on the TIAA Investment, Nominating and Governance, and Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility committees, as well as Trustee and CEO selection subcommittees.

Ms. Brown’s personal and professional experiences have enabled her to reach across cultural boundaries to ensure collaboration among diverse teams and drive successful outcomes for organizations.

Cathy Engelbert

In July of 2019, Cathy Engelbert was named the first-ever Commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is charged with bolstering visibility for the sport of women’s basketball and leading the business through transformation.
Stepping into the role of WNBA Commissioner, Cathy executed a historic player-first Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2020 which tripled the pay of top players and provided an array of progressive benefits. She has built and socialized a new economic framework to drive league growth and stakeholder success. Cathy led the longest tenured women’s professional sports league in the U.S. through its 25th anniversary season and through the COVID-19 pandemic over her first two seasons at the helm. Cathy then raised $75M capital from outside investors to fund league transformation projects and establish the WNBA as a premier sports and media property.
Prior to the WNBA, Cathy retired as the CEO of Deloitte in June of 2019, after 33 years with the firm. Elected as Deloitte CEO in 2015, she was the first woman CEO in the history of a Big Four professional services firm. In her role as CEO of Deloitte, Cathy led the largest accounting and consulting organization in the United States with more than 100,000 professionals.
Cathy is a member of the Board of Directors of McDonald’s Corporation, Royalty Pharma, and the USGA Executive Committee. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Partnership for New York City and is member of the Business Council, Council on the Foreign Relations, and Catalyst, a global non-profit organization that promotes inclusive workplaces for women.
She has been listed as one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women for four consecutive years, was ranked on Glassdoor’s annual Employees’ Choice Awards honoring the 100 Highest Rated CEOs, and is one of Fast Company magazine’s Most Productive People. In 2021, Engelbert was listed on the Forbes’ ‘50 Over 50’ list and Adweek’s ’40 Women to Watch’.
Cathy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Economics (Accounting) from Lehigh University. She has two children—earning her the recognition as one of Working Mother magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Moms for three years.

Priscilla Almodovar

Priscilla Almodovar is the CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Fannie Mae, a U.S. government sponsored enterprise and leading source of mortgage financings in the United States. With over 30 years’ experience in finance, Priscilla leads a company that advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality rental housing. As CEO, she is responsible for overseeing the firm’s strategy, managing risk, driving innovation and efficiency throughout the business. Currently, she is the only Latina overseeing a Fortune 500 company.
Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Priscilla led a national housing platform, and previously served as a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase where she led two of the firm's national real estate businesses. Earlier in her career, she was President and CEO of New York State’s housing finance and mortgage agencies. Priscilla serves on the Board of Directors of Realty Income, Inc., (NYSE: O).

Jessica Berman

Jessica Berman is the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League where she oversees all operations of the league with a focus on supporting players on and off the pitch, working with NWSL clubs to continue to build on the positive momentum of the league’s growing audience, and collaborating with NWSL partners to create the most engaging and entertaining fan experience.

Berman joined the NWSL after two and a half years serving as deputy commissioner and executive vice president of business affairs at the National Lacrosse League. During her time with the NLL, Berman’s responsibilities included overseeing team services, operations, marketing and communications, broadcast and content, community engagement, human resources, and league governance.

Prior to her time with the NLL, Berman spent 13 years with the National Hockey League, first serving as vice president and deputy general counsel for the organization before becoming vice president of community development, culture and growth and executive director of the NHL Foundation. In her role as Deputy General Counsel, she was involved in collective bargaining negotiations, and was a key contributor in creating and executing the NHL’s labor strategy during the 2012 talks.

Berman’s later roles with the league focused on bolstering the sports experience for NHL and hockey enthusiasts around the globe. This included implementing a positive, inclusive, community-friendly approach across the league and working to increase access to hockey at all levels of the game. In addition, Berman oversaw the design and execution of the NHL’s corporate social responsibility goals and initiatives, an area she is particularly passionate about.

A graduate of the Fordham University School of Law, Berman also worked as an associate at Proskauer Rose LLP in the labor and employment sector where she represented several employers in collective bargaining negotiations, arbitrations, mediations and litigations, and worked on pro bono cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault and military matters.

Berman completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating with a degree in Sports Management and Communications.

During her time at Michigan, Berman was involved with the men’s hockey and football programs as an assistant in the sports information office. While completing law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Fordham Sports Law Forum and was an associate editor of the Urban Law Journal.

Berman has earned several distinctions throughout her sports career. She was named to Sports Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list in 2014. She currently sits on the Sports Lawyers Association Board of Directors, the University of Michigan Sport Management Advisory Board, the Fordham Sports Law Forum Board of Advisors, Sports Innovation Lab Women Executive Network, the Vice Chair of SIGA America Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Pro Sports Assembly, an organization dedicated to promoting diversity & inclusion in the professional sports industry.

A Brooklyn, New York native, Berman resides in Larchmont, New York, with her two sons and two rescue dogs.

Svanika Balasubramanian

Svanika Balasubramanian is the Co-founder & CEO of rePurpose Global, the world’s leading Plastic Action Platform, dedicated to bringing together brands, innovators, and policymakers under one roof to collectively combat the plastic waste crisis.

Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics, she spent the next few years researching the impact of the illegal waste trade on marginalized local communities in the Global South, and helping build new financing instruments for the industry.

Today, as the CEO and co-founder of rePurpose Global, she plays a pivotal role in activating private sector involvement in the development of a circular economy for plastic. rePurpose removes over 20 million pounds of plastic from vulnerable ecosystems annually by scaling up urgently needed waste collection and recycling infrastructure across 7 countries, in partnership with over 270 companies including PepsiCo and Kenvue. This has increased incomes for over 2000 workers and brought holistic waste management services to over 1 million people.

Svanika is also a co-convener of the Innovation Alliance for the Global Plastics Treaty, uniting a group of ecosystem enablers, technology companies and investors. The IAGPT advocates for strategic goals, obligations, and implementation vehicles as part of the UN Global Plastic Treaty.

Svanika is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, World Economic Forum SDG Champion, One Young World Lead2030 Champion, and Emerson Dial Fellow. She is a frequent commentator on social entrepreneurship and sustainability topics with appearances on global platforms including the Nobel Prize Summit, World Economic Forum, and Sustainable Brands. Svanika is fueled by two passions: pushing ahead the charge for our future circular economy and finding new ways to integrate podcasts into her day.

Ana Cabral

Ana Cabral-Gardner is CEO and co-Chairperson of Sigma Lithium (Nasdaq: SGML), a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of electric vehicle batteries with carbon neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable chemical-grade lithium concentrate. Ana has been at the helm of Sigma Lithium since its IPO, leading it to become the global pioneer in environmental and social sustainability within the battery supply chain.

Ana has over 25 years of experience as a senior banker at global investment banks in New York, London and Sao Paulo and over 15 years of experience as an investor.

Prior to co-founding A10, Ana was Head of Latin American Capital Markets at Goldman Sachs in New York. She holds a masters from London Business School and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She currently serves on the Global Advisory Board of Columbia University.

Jessica Chang

Tech entrepreneur Jessica Chang is the CEO and Co-Founder of Upwards, a leading childcare solutions company that connects families and caregivers, and empowers employers and governments to expand access to care. A committed early childhood education advocate and mother of two, she is dedicated to solving the care crisis. Before Upwards, Jessica held executive positions at Affinity China, Macquarie Capital, and Radpad. A UC Berkeley graduate, she is also a preschool owner and resides in Los Angeles with her family.

Upwards CEO Jessica Chang's personal experience became the catalyst for change. Like many working parents, Jessica hit a brick wall when finding childcare for her firstborn. Long waitlists and exorbitant costs eclipsed the potential benefits of returning to work. Driven to find a solution, Jessica took matters into her own hands and became a daycare operator. This firsthand experience revealed major inefficiencies within the childcare industry, highlighting the critical need for a tech solution to help childcare providers run their businesses and parents find care. In 2017, Upwards was born from this desire to bridge the gap. Alongside co-founders Jesse Forrest and Matt Reilly, Jessica is building a future where quality childcare is accessible to all families.

Laura Modi

Infant formula shortages due to deadly bacteria and supply chain issues affected families across the world over the last few years. Even though the crisis has somewhat subsided, experts are warning parents that they aren’t out of the woods.

But where some companies have seen problems, Bobbie CEO Laura Modi saw an opportunity to raise awareness and access.

Modi, a former Airbnb executive, founded Bobbie in 2018 after she struggled finding formula for her baby that she would eat herself. Bobbie sells FDA-approved infant formula that’s made with organic milk — and doesn’t contain fillers, corn syrup, antibiotics, palm oil or maltodextrin, a white, starchy preservative.

In 2023, Bobbie purchased infant formula manufacturer Nature’s One. It allowed the organic baby formula company to own its domestic manufacturing and production, and tripled the size of its operations. The deal was part of the company’s commitment to invest $100 million to increase infant formula access, quality, and options in America by 2030.

“Last year’s infant formula shortage underscored the fact that we really had zero time to waste to invest in domestic manufacturing, with ‘domestic’ being the operative word,” Modi told TechCrunch. “The shortage woke us up to a lack of redundancy and resiliency that this essential good deserves to have.”

Bobbie has plans to expand Bobbie Labs, which will focus on holistic wellness and nutrition for mothers and infants in their first year. It’s also vowed to increase formula access for those in The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The company also launched Bobbie For Change, which works on government-based parental reform initiatives. The division has also aided more than 115 people affected by breast and gynecological cancer to receive free formula.

Geetha Murali

Dr. Geetha Murali is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Room to Read, a leading international education organization that believes World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read transforms the lives of millions of children through education, creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. As CEO, Geetha has been a driving force behind the exponential scale of Room to Read’s quality programs – achieving presence in 24 countries and benefiting more than 39 million children to date.

Geetha joined Room to Read in 2009 and has more than 25 years of diverse experience across the corporate and non-profit sectors. She has worked with large pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline and Chiron as well as on an array of educational technology programs like the Digital Equalizer Program (American India Foundation) and Adobe Youth Voices (Adobe Systems Incorporated).

Geetha’s compelling personal history as the daughter of a potential child bride coupled with her corporate experience, academic background in the quantitative and social sciences, and community-based work give her a unique perspective on the socio-economic landscapes in which Room to Read operates, as well as the quantitative rigor and business acumen needed to lead this transformative movement.

Geetha oversees the resourcing of approximately 60 Room to Read offices and their implementation of high-quality literacy and gender equality programs, in partnership with various levels of government, through public school systems and community organizations. Geetha is also responsible for a worldwide staff of 1,600 employees, and a global network of boards, investors and volunteer chapters.

Geetha’s commitment to ensuring measurable and scalable impact through robust technical design and operational excellence has been recognized by former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama, with both the first lady’s girls’ education initiatives, Let Girls Learn and Girls Opportunity Alliance, promoting Room to Read’s gender equality program as a role model for the sector. Geetha’s efforts to scale literacy instruction, school library and private book publishing programs have also resulted in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation naming Room to Read as a Goalkeepers Accelerator in education. Geetha writes extensively and is regularly invited to speak on global stages about social justice, large-scale implementation of quality education programs and leadership.

She has been featured in international media outlets such as BBC, Bloomberg, ABC, CNBC and Times of India to comment on the state of literacy and gender equality around the world. During her career she has revolutionized the sphere of public-private partnerships as a thought leader in international fundraising, marketing, public relations and communications for the social sector.

Geetha is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO), has been recognized by WIRED as a leader who will shape the next 25 years and has been named as a CNBC Changemaker to their inaugural list of women transforming business. She serves on the board of directors for the Global Press Institute and is a Founding Circle member and Social Impact Advisor for Neythri, a global community of South Asian professional women. Geetha received her master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s and doctorate degrees in South Asian politics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Kelly Sawyer Patricof

Kristin Peck

Kristin Peck is Chief Executive Officer of Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company and a member of the Fortune 500. Ms. Peck is also a member of the Zoetis Board of Directors.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2020, Ms. Peck was executive vice president and group president, U.S. Operations, Business Development and Strategy at Zoetis. Ms. Peck helped usher Zoetis through its Initial Public Offering in 2013 and has been a driving force of change in many roles at the company, including Global Manufacturing and Supply, Global Poultry, Global Diagnostics, Corporate Development, and New Product Marketing and Global Market Research. Named by Barron’s as one of the top CEOs in 2022, and by Fortune as a 2020 Businessperson of the Year, Ms. Peck has been recognized for her leadership and Zoetis' strong performance in challenging times.

Before joining Zoetis, Ms. Peck served as executive vice president, Worldwide Business Development and Innovation at Pfizer Inc., and as a member of Pfizer's Executive Leadership Team. In that role, she was responsible for the evaluation of strategic alternatives for Pfizer's Animal Health and Nutrition businesses – paving the way for a public animal health company and attractive investment opportunity.

Prior to joining Pfizer, Ms. Peck held roles at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as well as in private equity and real estate finance at The Prudential Realty Group, The O'Connor Group and J.P. Morgan.

Ms. Peck serves on the boards of BlackRock, Mayo Clinic, and Columbia Business School, and is a member of the Business Roundtable. She is also a Board member of Catalyst, a global non-profit that helps companies accelerate women into leadership. In addition, she is president of HealthforAnimals, the global animal health association, which advocates for the fundamental role of healthy animals in improving global wellbeing, sustainability and prosperity.

Ms. Peck holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Kate Ryder

Kate Ryder is the founder and CEO of Maven Clinic, the largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health. Maven offers virtual care and services across fertility, maternity, pediatrics, and menopause, and operates the largest women's and family health telehealth network globally. With Maven, employers and health plans can see improved maternal outcomes, lower costs, and attract and retain more parents in the workforce. Prior to founding Maven in 2014, Kate worked in venture capital and as a journalist, writing for The Economist from Southeast Asia, New York and London and for The New Yorker. In 2009, she worked with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, helping him write his memoirs about the financial crisis. Kate has been named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and to Fast Company’s “Most Creative People.” Kate received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her MSc from the London School of Economics. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children.

Dr. Angela Shippy

Angela A. Shippy, MD, MHA, FACP, FHM is Amazon Web Services’ Senior Physician Executive and Clinical Innovation Lead, Global Healthcare & Nonprofit. In this role, Dr. Shippy brings clinical and operational leadership experience and perspective to advancing cloud technology adoption to support, enable, and activate patients and providers. Previously, Dr. Shippy served as Senior Vice President, Chief Medical & Quality Officer at Memorial Hermann Health System where she had system-wide oversight for accreditation, clinical quality, employee and patient safety, lab, and pharmacy. Prior to Memorial Hermann, Dr. Shippy served as Chief Medical Officer of HCA’s Gulf Coast Division and as Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center where she practiced as a hospitalist. She earned a B.S. in biology from Texas A&M University and an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where she also completed her residency in internal medicine. Dr. Shippy has served on local, state, and national councils and committees and held volunteer faculty positions at Baylor College of Medicine, UT Health-Houston, and The Institute of Healthcare Improvement. She currently serves on advisory committees for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Houston and The Houston Area Women’s Center.

Norah Weinstein

Lacy O’Toole

Lacy O’Toole is Managing Editor of CNBC Business News, responsible for driving the network’s overall news agenda, creating and spearheading timely coverage initiatives and maintaining CNBC’s high editorial standards. In this role, she oversees the CNBC newsdesk, bureaus in Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles, booking, and media acquisition teams.

Previously, O’Toole was Vice President of News Coverage for CNBC directing and managing the priorities of the network’s reporters, producers and bureaus, as well guiding their storytelling and sharpening their on-air performance. She also managed big network projects such as CNBC's series of special reports on Warren Buffett with anchor Becky Quick.

Before that, O’Toole was Los Angeles Bureau Chief where she managed CNBC's West Coast coverage of breaking news, the housing and mortgage crisis, and the entertainment industry.

O'Toole joined CNBC in 2002 as a news associate working on the newsdesk and later held positions as a segment producer and field producer for the network managing CNBC's coverage of international and domestic multi-camera remotes and key CNBC series and specials including "Katrina: One Year Later," "Warren Buffett: All Access,” “The Russian Gamble,” “Big Money in the Middle East,” and "City of Money & Mystery.”

Prior to CNBC, O'Toole worked at Leerink Swann and Company, a boutique investment bank in Boston, MA.

O'Toole holds a bachelor's degree from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and a master's degree in strategic communication from Columbia University in New York City.

Julia Boorstin

Julia Boorstin is CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech Correspondent based at the network’s Los Angeles Bureau. She covers media with a special focus on the intersection of media and technology. Boorstin also plays a key role on CNBC’s bi-coastal tech-focused program “TechCheck” (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET/8AM-9AM PT) delivering reporting, analysis and interviews around streaming, social and the convergence of media and technology. She joined CNBC in May 2006 as a general assignment reporter and in 2007 moved to Los Angeles to cover media.

In 2013, Boorstin created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting the private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. Additionally, she reported a documentary on the future of television for the network, “Stay Tuned…The Future of TV.” She also helped launch CNBC’s ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative covering the people and companies closing gender gaps, and leads CNBC’s coverage of studies on this topic. She is currently writing a book called, “WHEN WOMEN LEAD: What they achieve, Why they succeed, and How we can learn from them,” about female founders that Simon & Schuster’s Avid Reader imprint is publishing in October 2022.

Boorstin joined CNBC from Fortune magazine where she was a business writer and reporter since 2000. During that time, she was also a contributor to “Street Life,” a live market wrap-up segment on CNN Headline News.

In 2003, 2004 and 2006, The Journalist and Financial Reporting newsletter named Boorstin to the “TJFR 30 under 30” list of the most promising business journalists under 30 years old. She has also worked for the State Department’s delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and for Vice President Gore’s domestic policy office.

She graduated with honors from Princeton University with a B.A. in history. She was also an editor of The Daily Princetonian.

Sara Eisen

Sara Eisen is co-anchor of the 10AM hour of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” (M-F, 9AM-11AM ET) and co-anchor of “Money Movers” (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET), which both broadcast from Post 9 at the New York Stock Exchange. She is known for her deep expertise in financial markets and the global economy as well as regular news making interviews with some of the most prominent names in the financial world, including Phil Knight, Janet Yellen and Christine Lagarde, among others.

Previously, Eisen anchored CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” “Squawk on the Street,” “Power Lunch” and “Worldwide Exchange.” She also reported on the one-hour documentary, “Inside Track: The Business of Formula 1,” that explores the world’s most prestigious racing series, what is fueling its popularity and who is profiting. Eisen joined CNBC in December 2013 as a correspondent, focusing on the global consumer.

Prior to CNBC, Eisen was co-anchor of “Bloomberg Surveillance” as well as a correspondent for Bloomberg Television, where she covered global macroeconomics, policy and business. During that time, she covered the European debt crisis, the tsunami aftermath and Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan. Eisen also hosted the Bloomberg Radio program, “On the Economy.”

She is the editor of “Currencies After the Crash: The Uncertain Future of the Global Paper-Based Currency System” published by McGraw-Hill in Jan. 2013.

Eisen holds a master’s degree in broadcast journalism with a concentration in business reporting from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Sharon Epperson

Sharon Epperson, named one of “12 to Watch in TV News,” can be seen regularly on CNBC television and other media platforms.

As CNBC’s senior personal finance correspondent, Epperson covers the many facets of how people manage, grow and protect their money. Her expertise includes saving and investing for retirement, paying for college, managing mortgage, student loan, credit card and other debt, and building a financial legacy through estate planning.

Preparing your finances for the unexpected is another critical (and personal) aspect of her reporting. In September 2016, Epperson sustained a ruptured brain aneurysm and she nearly lost her life. She has become a staunch advocate for health and wellness issues, raising awareness about brain aneurysms and funding for research. In September 2018, she and her family established “The Sharon Epperson Chair of Research” through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation to provide grants for research on early detection and innovative treatments.

Epperson is a lead contributor to “Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow.,” a multi-platform financial wellness and education initiative at CNBC in partnership with the micro-investing app Acorns, and developed its companion 8-week learning course and weekly newsletter, “Invest in You: Money 101.” She also contributes to NBC’s TODAY and NBC Nightly News as well as Today.com and NBCNews.com.

Her book, The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money-and Live Richly Ever After, was a finalist for the Books for a Better Life Awards, honoring works that have “changed the lives of millions.” She also was a contributing writer for The Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster. Her personal finance expertise has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, USA Weekend, Self, Essence, Ebony and TIME, where she had covered business, culture, social issues and health as a correspondent prior to joining CNBC.

Epperson has numerous industry and civic awards, including the Special Achievement Award from the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and the Savvy Inspiration Award from the non-profit, financial empowerment group Savvy Ladies. She won an Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracie Award for Outstanding Online Host for her “Financial Advisor Playbook” video series on CNBC.com. She has received the Vanguard Award for her distinguished career in business and personal finance reporting from the National Urban League Guild, and the All-Star Award from the Association of Women in Communications. She also has won awards from the New York Festivals, the New York Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Epperson is committed to improving financial literacy, particularly in underserved communities. She was invited to the White House during President Obama’s administration to speak about financial literacy and to moderate a public meeting of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability at the U.S. Treasury Department. She also speaks frequently at conferences and events for local and national organizations, colleges and universities about many facets of personal finance.

An adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Epperson has also taught courses at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. She enjoys teaching the importance of budgeting and building long-term savings as part of her professional development courses for graduate students.

Epperson received her bachelor’s in sociology and government from Harvard University, a master of international affairs degree from Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from Carlow University in Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh native, she has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Taylor Allderdice High School, her alma mater.

She currently lives with her husband and two children in Westchester County, N.Y.

Melissa Lee

Melissa Lee is the host of CNBC’s “Fast Money” (Monday-Thursday, 5PM-6PM ET; Friday, 5PM-5:30PM ET), which originates from the Nasdaq’s MarketSite studio in New York’s Times Square. “Fast Money” gives you the information normally reserved for the Wall Street trading floor, enabling you to make decisions that can make you money. She is also the host of “Options Action,” (Friday, 5:30PM ET), a weekly half-hour program that explains the advantages of options trading.

In addition, Lee is a member of the ensemble cast of CNBC’s “Power Lunch” (M-F, 2PM-3PM ET).

Previously, Lee was co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and host of “Money in Motion Currency Trading” and "Option's Action". She also covered investment banking, hedge funds and private equity for the network.

Lee has reported one-hour documentaries for the network, including “Rise of the Machines (2013),” “Code Wars: America’s Cyber Threat”(2011), ”Coca-Cola: The Real Story Behind the Real Thing” (2009) and ”Porn: Business of Pleasure” (2009). In 2008, Lee reported and anchored a one-hour documentary, “Made in China: People’s Republic of Profit,” from Beijing and Shanghai. She reported extensively for the network on China from the country’s growth to its challenges to the opportunities for U.S. businesses.

Lee received a 2010 Gracie Award for Outstanding Host-News and a Gerald Loeb Award nomination in 2009 for a CNBC Special Report: “Is Your Money Safe? The Fall of Lehman Brothers,” for which she co-anchored. Lee also has been nominated for two Emmy awards in Business News. In 2007, she was recognized for her report, “The $50M Con,” about a college student-turned scammer who ran a fake hedge fund and was ultimately caught by the FBI. And in 2003, she was nominated for her reporting on the proxy voting of mutual funds.

Prior to joining CNBC in 2004, Lee worked for Bloomberg Television and CNN Financial News.

Before her career in television, Lee was a consultant at Mercer Management Consulting. Her cases focused on the banking and credit card sectors.

Lee graduated with honors from Harvard College with a bachelor of arts in government. She also served as Assistant Managing Editor of the Harvard Crimson.

Megan Amic

Megan Amic is the Head of Media at American Honda. Megan joined American Honda in June 2023 and leads all media strategy and implementation across the Acura and Honda automotive brands. Her experience spans across entertainment, automotive, beauty/CPG, and consumer electronics industries. Megan received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jacqui Canney

Jacqui Canney is the Chief People Officer for ServiceNow, the digital workflow company making the world work better for everyone. Jacqui joined ServiceNow in September 2021 and leads all talent strategies for its rapidly growing global workforce of more than 22,500 employees.

Jacqui led the development of ServiceNow’s People Pact, which reimagines the employee value proposition as a commitment to help employees “do their best work, live their best lives, and fulfill our purpose together.” She continues to leverage ServiceNow technology and generative AI solutions to deliver on that commitment, from leading the launch of the company’s first shared learning platform, frED, to redesigning its performance management experience. She is focused on constantly improving employee experiences by putting people at the center and enabling them through technology. She is also responsible for the ServiceNow Education line of business, overseeing training and enablement of customers and partners. On track to deliver one million credentials in the next three years, she empowers individuals worldwide with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's digital workplace.

Prior to ServiceNow, Jacqui served as the Global Chief People Officer for WPP, a global leader in marketing, media, advertising, and communications with more than 100,000 people across 100 countries. In this role, she was responsible for making WPP the destination for the industry’s top talent and leading all aspects of people strategy, rewards, talent management, recruiting, and leadership development.

Prior to joining WPP, Jacqui was Walmart's Chief People Officer, where she was responsible for attracting, retaining, and developing talent for one of the world’s largest private employers with more than two million associates. Her career includes 25 years at Accenture, where she played a pivotal role in Accenture's IPO and witnessed the company's exponential growth from 25,000 to 400,000 people.

Jacqui was the co-chair of the World Economic Forum Future of Work Task Force, a member of the Rework America Business Network, and she participated in the Council on Foreign Relations 2018 Future of Work Task Force.

Jacqui earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Boston College and has remained active on campus guest lecturing, collaborating with professors, and recruiting. Jacqui currently serves on the Board of Directors for Project Healthy Minds, the Chief HR Officer Board for the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), and the Board of Trustees at Boston College. She is also a member of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women community.

Gina Mastantuono

Gina Mastantuono is ServiceNow’s chief financial officer, a position she has served for nearly four years.

As CFO, her global organization spans all aspects of finance, including accounting, risk & compliance, payroll, tax, investor relations & treasury, real estate & workplace services, and more. In addition, Ms. Mastanuono spearheads ServiceNow’s global impact strategy, in support of environmental, social, and governance initiatives across the enterprise. Keeping with ServiceNow’s people-centric company values, Ms. Mastantuono focuses on developing and leading world-class teams that drive customer success. She is a member of ServiceNow’s Executive Leadership Team and is committed to helping ServiceNow continue to deliver exceptional value to customers, employees, and shareholders. 

From December 2016 to January 2020, Ms. Mastantuono served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ingram Micro Inc., a provider of global technology and supply chain services with revenues north of $50B, and as its executive vice president, finance, from April 2013 to December 2016. From June 2007 to April 2013, Ms. Mastantuono served as senior vice president, chief accounting officer, controller, and international chief financial officer of Revlon, Inc., a cosmetics, skin care, fragrance and personal care company. Prior to Revlon, Ms. Mastantuono held various executive finance roles at InterActiveCorp., a media and internet company. She began her career at Ernst & Young in the entrepreneurial services group.

Ms. Mastantuono holds a B.S. degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the State University of New York at Albany. She serves on the boards of directors of Gong and Roblox. In September 2023, Ms. Mastantuono was named CFO of the Year, Public Company, Large, by the San Francisco Business Times. She has also been honored as one of CRN's “Power 100” and twice listed on the National Diversity Council's Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology. She is a native of Long Island, NY and enjoys fitness, travel, and raising her two sons and puppy with husband Luke.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is a member of the Board of Directors of a financial services firm, Beneficient, and a contributor to CNBC.

Previously, Caruso-Cabrera spent more than 20 years at CNBC, most recently as chief international correspondent and co-anchor of "Power Lunch." Throughout her career, Caruso-Cabrera has covered a wide range of stories from the 2008 financial crisis to U.S. elections to the debt crisis in Greece and the Brexit vote. She has traveled the world reporting live from Cuba, Iran, Ukraine, Iraq, Italy, Russia, Venezuela and Latin America, among many others.

She joined CNBC from WTSP-TV in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she spent four years as a general assignment reporter covering crime and hurricanes. Prior to that, Caruso-Cabrera was a special projects producer for Univision where she gained experience covering Latin America. She began her career in 1990 while in college, as a stringer for The New York Times, reporting for the education section.

Caruso-Cabrera wrote her first book, "You Know I'm Right: More Prosperity, Less Government," in 2010. Previously, she wrote a personal finance column for Shape en Español and People en Español.

She has also been awarded Broadcaster of the Year from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the country by Hispanic Business magazine. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wellesley College.

Agenda

1:00pm

Networking Reception

1:30pm

Main Stage Programming

Welcome

Lacy O’Toole, CNBC Managing Editor
Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent

Game Respects Game

The WNBA is having a moment. In 2023, the league had its most watched regular season in 21 years. In addition, they announced that the Golden State Warriors will be adding a WNBA franchise in 2025, the first team expansion since 2008. Following one of its most anticipated drafts—with several generational players joining the leagueWNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert joins us to discuss the league’s remarkable growth, what’s ahead and how this could be a pivotal year in women’s sports.

Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner
Interviewer: Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent 

Watch the full interview

Leading with Purpose – On Policy

The past few years have seen national upheaval regarding many social issues: climate change, gun violence, reproductive rights, racial biases, and more—with much attention paid to how companies are addressing these issues with customers and employees. Two leaders will tell us how they are navigating these policies while fulfilling the missions of their companies. 

Priscilla Sims Brown, Amalgamated Bank CEO
Kate Ryder, Maven Clinic Founder & CEO
Moderator: Melissa Lee, CNBC “Fast Money” Host 

Watch the full interview

Changemaker Spotlight

Svanika Balasubramanian, rePurpose Global Co-Founder & CEO 

Watch the spotlight

Heading the Charge with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo

During the past year, Secretary Raimondo has overseen the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research. We’ll delve into her work to close the digital divide, how she navigated her successful career that spanned the public and private sectors, as well as how business and technological advances can empower the next generation of women. 

Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Interviewer: Sara Eisen, CNBC “Squawk on the Street” & “Money Movers” Co-Anchor 

Watch the full interview

Challenging the Status Quo

This Session Is Sponsored by ServiceNow 

In today’s rapidly evolving world, companies need more than just a solid strategy to win. Enter the changemakers: powerhouse women reshaping the corporate landscape. They are challenging the status quo, fostering creativity and driving innovation in one of the most turbulent business environments in our history. In this session, we’ll talk to two C-suite leaders driving exceptional results and learn how they are helping an enterprise not only survive but thrive amidst complexity and uncertainty. 

Jacqui Canney, ServiceNow Chief People Officer
Gina Mastantuono, ServiceNow Chief Financial Officer 
Moderator: Michelle CarusoCabrera, CNBC Events Contributor 

Watch the full session

The Mother of Invention

Society often comes up short when it comes to working mothers. Inspired by their personal and professional experiences, these women set out to address shortcomings in the market and founded businesses to help other families, particularly mothers looking to get back into the workforce. We’ll discuss leadership as a working mom, navigating entrepreneurship and the true power that comes from defying expectations and beating the odds.

Jessica Chang, Upwards Co-Founder & CEO
Laura Modi, Bobbie Co-Founder & CEO
Moderator: Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent 

Watch the full interview

3:10pm

Networking Break

3:35pm

Main stage resumes

Driving Change

A Message from Our Sponsor

Megan Amic, American Honda Head of Media

Watch the sponsor remarks

Minding the Gap

Transforming a business starts by identifying gaps in the system. We’ll speak with two leaders who have used their first-hand experiences and unique perspectives to bring about change in their industries and service previously unfilled needs. One rewrote the rules for homeownership for those previously shut out from the American Dream, while the other tapped into an overlooked audience to build a major fanbase and big profits. Hear how they did it.

Priscilla Almodovar, Fannie Mae CEO
Jessica Berman, National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner
Moderator: Sharon Epperson, CNBC Senior Personal Finance Correspondent 

Watch the full interview

Straight to the Pointe

Misty Copeland began ballet lessons at 13. A prodigy, she was dancing en pointe just three months later, all while her family faced housing insecurity. In 2015, the trailblazing ballerina became the first African American woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland joins us to discuss her illustrious career, overcoming adversity and her mission to make the dance community more inclusive for all. 

Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer & Misty Copeland Foundation President
Interviewer: Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent 

Watch the full interview

Changemaker Spotlight

Ana Cabral, Sigma Lithium CEO & Co-Chairperson

Watch the spotlight

Journey to the Future

Recent innovations in health tech are leading to product breakthroughs and improved patient care for humans and animals alike. Hear how these two women are leading through rapid technological advancements at their organizations, while rooting out bias and ensuring different perspectives are considered when leveraging the power of AI.  

Kristin Peck, Zoetis CEO
Dr. Angela Shippy, AWS Senior Physician Executive & Clinical Innovation Lead, Global Healthcare and Nonprofit
Moderator: Sharon Epperson, CNBC Senior Personal Finance Correspondent

Watch the full interview

Changemaker Spotlight

Geetha Murali, Room to Read CEO 

Watch the spotlight

Change Starts at the Beginning

One of the most powerful ways to bring about change is to break a cycle. For too many women in poverty, it can be nearly impossible to meet even the basic needs of their children. Changemakers Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, Baby2Baby Co-CEOs, use the most high-tech logistics and approaches to break this cycle by providing relief for impoverished families faster and more efficiently. 

We speak to the Baby2Baby Co-CEOs on this important mission and how helping mothers can bring about bigger change for the future.  

Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Baby2Baby Co-CEO
Norah Weinstein, Baby2Baby Co-CEO
Moderator: Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent 

Watch the full interview

Closing Remarks

Lacy O’Toole, CNBC Managing Editor
Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent

5:00pm

Cocktail Hour

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION FOR CNBC CHANGEMAKERS IS NOW CLOSED. ALL SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.

PLEASE EMAIL EVENTS@CNBC.COM TO CONNECT WITH OUR AUDIENCE TEAM.

Accessibility

CNBC Events is committed to creating an accessible experience for all guests. Please email us at events@cnbc.com in advance if you require specific accommodations.

DIAMOND SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR