BWIB x EGAL
Women in the Workforce
2024
The Women in the Workforce Conference is an annual transformative and impactful event hosted by BWIB and EGAL. It offers the rare opportunity to be surrounded by some of the most powerful women in business, and leaders from many top companies. Past leaders include C-Suite Members, Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, and more, of companies such as PepsiCo., Boston Consulting Group, Best Buy, Zendesk, Westfield, BlackRock, Gap Inc., and Cain Brothers, to entrepreneurs and CEOs of their own companies. They speak and deliver engaging workshops where attendees learn about women's empowerment in the workplace.
Co-Hosted with EGAL
The Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership (EGAL) is driving a leadership movement to reimagine business for an equitable and inclusive society. Their mission is to educate educate Equity Fluent Leaders™ to ignite and accelerate change. Equity Fluent Leaders intentionally use their power to drive positive change and build an inclusive and equitable world. Equity Fluent Leadership is an ongoing journey. More info here.
Keynote Speaker
Avni Barman
Avni is the CEO and founder of GenShe, a media platform building and leading the next generation of female talent. Avni has built a community of 200,000 women across IG, TikTok, a newsletter, a podcast, and a job board. With 4+ years in Big Tech as an engineer and product manager, Avni is now on a mission to unlock the potential of every young woman in entrepreneurship, tech, venture, and media. Learn more at generationshe.co
Fireside Chats
Attendees will break into smaller groups to attend a fireside chat of their choosing, selecting between offerings on Women in Entrepreneurship, Women in CSR, and Women in Marketing.
Shruti Goli, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Trymata, was born and raised in the Bay Area. After pursuing a BS in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Shruti went on to be a Product Manager at Microsoft — all while bootstrapping her product analytics company, Stitchology.ai, with her co-founder Karthik Ravi. They sold Stitchology.ai in 2022 to Trymata, one of the largest usability testing solutions in the market.
Bailey Farren, CEO and co-founder of Perimeter, was inspired to establish the organization after her family evacuated during California’s 2017 Tubbs Fire, revealing the inadequacies of public safety technology. Leveraging her UC Berkeley education and dedication to climate action, Perimeter addresses the multifaceted challenges of contemporary emergencies by integrating technological, natural, and human elements. Bailey has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 and currently serves as Miss San Francisco 2024.
Romina Silva is the visionary founder of Foodware, a pioneering company dedicated to combating single-use takeaway container waste. Armed with a background in chemical engineering from both San Diego Mesa College and UC Berkeley, Romina leverages her expertise to introduce a groundbreaking collect & return system. This innovative approach not only offers convenience and cost-efficiency but also champions environmental sustainability, positioning Foodware at the forefront of the eco-conscious movement.
LILLIAN ZHANG
Lillian is a dynamic professional thriving as a Product Marketing Manager at Google, where she channels her passion for marketing into driving innovation and impactful strategies. Beyond her corporate endeavors, Lillian's creative spirit finds expression through various innovative projects she undertakes on the side. Her insatiable curiosity and drive to merge her skills and interests lead her on a perpetual quest for novel approaches to problem-solving and expression.
Workshops
Attendees will break into smaller groups to attend a workshop of their choosing, selecting between offerings on Movement in Leadership, Resilient Leadership, and Challenges & Strategies for Women in Leadership.
Colby Sameshima hails from Honolulu, Hawai’i, a place whose culture and people deeply engendered her devotion to making the world a more equitable, sustainable place. She has 12 years of social impact entrepreneurship experience -- from working in non-profits and accelerators, to founding her own digital marketing services and education business. She also has over 25 years of experience teaching, choreographing, and performing dance. With Movement As Leadership, LLC, she’s combining these experiences to lean into a deeper calling: to help every human access their best, authentic self, through the power of leadership development and movement.
Angeli Patel, Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business, brings a wealth of experience from her legal and government career, including roles at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and the White House Office of Management and Budget. With expertise in sustainability, ESG advisory, and corporate governance, she has also advised startups and small businesses, launching her own puzzle line for women of color in 2021 and advising DEI startup, Mandala.
Dr. Kellie McElhaney is a leading voice in business leadership and equity, founding and directing both the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership (EGAL) and the Center for Responsible Business at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Through her consultancy, she advises global businesses and drives initiatives to cultivate equity-fluent leaders. Dr. McElhaney's impactful contributions span research, writing, and board engagements, underscoring her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in corporate environments.
Diversity in the ABC’s Panel
In this panel, top industry professionals from the Big 4 discuss diversity in the Accounting, Banking, and Consulting ecosystem. Hear about the business journeys of some of the most influential women in the Bay Area and the country.
REBECCA SMITH, KPMG
Rebecca Smith is a Partner at KPMG US, based in San Francisco, with over 27 years of experience in audit services. Committed to exceptional client care and team development, she is also dedicated to community impact, serving as the Community Impact Leader for KPMG San Francisco. Rebecca's expertise spans advising global public organizations, private companies, and venture-backed enterprises in industries such as technology and consumer products, focusing on complex financial matters and strategic transactions.
SHALINI BHATIA, DELOITTE
Shalini Bhatia, a Partner at Deloitte Consulting LLP and a Haas MBA alumna, possesses over 16 years of experience guiding executives in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors. With expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions, go-to-market strategy, and business transformation, she has led numerous high-impact projects, shaping the industry landscape. Shalini's ability to scope complex business problems and execute solutions has earned her a reputation for driving significant value for her clients.
VIRGINIA ROBERSON, EY
Virginia Roberson is an accomplished Assurance Senior Manager at EY, currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over a decade of experience at EY, she has demonstrated expertise in assurance and auditing services. Virginia's journey in the financial sector began with her Bachelor's degree in Accounting & International Business from Iowa State University, followed by a Master's degree in Accounting from the University of Virginia. Throughout her career, Virginia has consistently showcased her dedication to excellence and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.
SHARON KAO, PWC
Sharon Kao is a Partner at PwC's Strategy& specializing in operations and commercial transformation for Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail companies. With over 15 years of consulting experience across the US and China, she excels in leading large-scale transformation programs and strategic initiatives. Sharon is a University of California Berkeley alumna, holding a BS in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, and she also earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.