2020 IWEC Foundation Conference

Monday, 9 November 2020 11:00 AM - Tuesday, 10 November 2020 2:30 PM EST

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Monday, 9 November 2020 11:00 AM - Tuesday, 10 November 2020 2:30 PM EST

The 2020 IWEC Foundation Conference

Connecting Women Businesses Globally: Sustainable Growth in the New Decade

 

In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the uncertainty of future gatherings, The IWEC Foundation will host our 2020 Conference in November virtually.

The conference will be featuring keynote speakers and panelists who will discuss topics relevant to sustainability, a very important issue facing every business globally. 

"We look forward to presenting a strong educational program for you this year as well as continued connectivity for successful women business owners. We will also be acknowledging our Class of 2020 Awardees, who are nominated by our chamber partners and women's business affiliate organizations," states IWEC Foundation Chairwoman Ruth A. Davis.

 

Speakers and Panelists to include:

  • HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan, Conference Chairwoman
  • Fernando Hernandez, Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability, Microsoft
  • Ibukun Awosika Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria & IWEC Foundation President
  • Sadhguru, Indian Author & Yogi
  • Denise Evans, Vice President, Diverse Partner Development, IBM Corporation
  • Regina O. Heyward, Sr VP Supplier Diversity, Wells Fargo

Please go the speakers tab for a full listing and bios

Click here to download the conference agenda.

 

Networking Rooms

We will be offering virtual networking opportunities on Monday and Tuesday in the form of virtual Networking Rooms. These Networking Rooms will be industry-specific to offer you an opportunity to connect with peers from across the globe, all led by a moderator.

  and bios.

Cancelation Policy

The IWEC Foundation reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable. If The IWEC Foundation cancels an event, ticket buyers will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event The IWEC Foundation has the right to either issue a full refund or transfer the event ticket to the same event at the new, future date. By purchasing an event ticket, you understand that all sales are final at the point of purchase, whether you use your ticket(s) or not. No refunds will be issued within 21 days of the event. To request a refund, send an email to nancyp@iwecfoundation.org. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment. If you paid for your event ticket by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card should the refund be approved by the IWEC Foundation. You will receive a refund of the ticket price ($50). Please note that the adminstration fee is non-refundable. Please allow several business days for a refund to be processed.

NOTE:  If you are not able to join us live, you will be able to watch the entire conference taped but must be registered to receive the link to watch.

IWEC Foundation

iwecfoundation.org

The IWEC Foundation is a global nonprofit organization that helps women-owned businesses connect and grow.

Contact the Organizer

Adela Subirana
IWEC Foundation Vice President
Barcelona Chamber of Commerce

Ms. Subirana was a member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona for more than 15 years and since 2007 the Commissioner of the Presidency for Institutional Activities. Prior to joining the Chamber, she was a Member of the Board of OSHSA – GUINOVART, a company in the construction sector and SUFISA which went on to merge with Sacyr. Partaking an active role in local and global fundraising efforts, she served as President of the private foundation Group Set from 1989 to 2014, was a Member of the Board of the “Friends of Liceo Opera House,” and a Member of the Board of the Palau de la Música Catalana. Since 2015, Ms. Subirana is the Vice President of the IWEC Foundation. She received the “Medalla President Macià” of the Generalitat of Catalunya for her outstanding work. And, in 2006, the Italian government awarded her the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta’ Italiana.” Ms. Subirana holds a degree in Philosophy and Humanities from the University of Barcelona as well as the “Maîtrisse et Licenses et Arts” from Sorbonne IV Université.

About Adela Subirana

IWEC Foundation Vice President
Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
Regina O. Heyward
Senior Vice President & Head of Diversity
Wells Fargo

Regina O. Heyward is senior vice president and head of Supplier Diversity for Wells Fargo. With more than two decades of multi-industry global supply chain and supplier diversity strategy experience, she is responsible for developing and engaging certified diverse suppliers to integrate them into Wells Fargo’s sourcing and procurement processes. Regina joined Wells Fargo in 2014. Throughout her career, Regina has been known for developing high impact supplier diversity programs and leading strategic supply chain initiatives in North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Prior to her current role, she served as the director of enterprise supplier management for Capital One, a role in which she led the supplier diversity team and was responsible for corporate real estate category sourcing. Prior to that role, Regina served as the director of global supply chain compliance at MeadWestvaco, where she implemented a supplier diversity program and was responsible for global supplier risk management. Currently, she serves as a board member for Disability: IN (Vice Chair) and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She provides leadership insights as a member of the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Ethical Standards Committee and Nominating Committee. She also serves on the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors. Regina has been featured three times by DiversityPlus as one of the “Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity,” and has received numerous other recognitions for her leadership in diversity, including honors from Minority Business News and DiversityInc. Regina, a native of Thomasville, Georgia, is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and earned her J.D. from North Carolina Central School of Law.

About Regina O. Heyward

Senior Vice President & Head of Diversity
Wells Fargo
Harjinder Kaur
CEO
Comvision India

A self-made entrepreneur herself, Ms Talwar is the MD & CEO of Comvision India Pvt Ltd. She founded her company in 1995. Currently with 150+ employees and 4 offices across India, she stands tall as the only businesswoman, into the specific arena of intelligent traffic and transport solutions. Today Comvision is CMM level3, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013 & ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 certified medium sized business organization. Currently with 150+ employees and 4 offices across India, she stands tall as the only businesswoman, into the specific arena of intelligent traffic / transport solutions. Having a computer science degree & during her initial years in business, she took upon the challenge to change the way Govt. services were given to a citizen and gave a concept of multiple services of different Govt. depts. under one roof to India. Her first such project “TWINS” implemented in Hyderabad in 1999 redefined the way Govt to citizen (G2C) services were delivered. The model was thus replicated PAN India by many other Govt. departments and these govt. departments soon adopted the concept of integrated multiple services under one roof. TWINS was also showcased to the then US President “H.E. Bill Clinton” during his maiden visit to India. As she grew in business her company additionally went on to specialize in the road sector and today has strategic partnerships with world leaders in technologically advanced solutions in specific areas of intelligent traffic & Transport. With her domain knowledge of Indian business and best of technology adoption, her company has become a name to reckon with in the technology implementation in road sector as well. She has leveraged her sound business policies and good relationship with Governments across ideologies including the current dispensation. Some of the notable contributions are as under: Implementation of RFID based electronic toll collection technology for India, integrating with the central clearing house of NPCI and payment settlement system across banks for toll lanes in India. A few major Highways in the country are running with her solutions. Some of them are Delhi Agra Highway, Gurgaon- Faridabad Toll Road and Hosur Krishnagiri Toll Road.

About Harjinder Kaur

CEO
Comvision India
Pedro Nueno
Professor
IESE Barcelona

Pedro Nueno is a Technical Architect, Industrial Engineer and Doctor of Business Administration from Harvard University. He has also been Professor of Entrepreneurship at IESE and was formerly Chengwei Ventures Chair on Entrepreneurship (CEIBS). He was a member of the Visiting Committee of the Harvard Business School, a supervisory board in practice, for six years (2005-2011). Professor Nueno is also founder of FINAVES, a venture capital corporation associated with the entrepreneurship activity of IESE Alumni which has supported the launch of more than 40 companies, creating over 3,000 new jobs. His areas of interest include entrepreneurship, starting new ventures, global management, management of technology and innovation. Professor Nueno has authored 17 books which were translated into several languages, covering topics such as corporate turnaround, innovation and entrepreneurship. He has received many honors including The Cross of Saint Jordi (2003), the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Chinese Government (2014), and “Commander by Number or the Order of Queen Elisabeth the Catholic” (2015).

About Pedro Nueno

Professor
IESE Barcelona
Yan Lan
Chairperson
Sun Media Group

Yang Lan is often called “the Oprah of China.” The chair of a multi-platform business empire, Yang is pioneering more-open means of communication in the communist nation. Yang Lan’s rise to stardom in China has drawn comparisons to Oprah Winfrey’s success in the US. It’s easy to see why: Yang is a self-made entrepreneur and the most powerful woman in the Chinese media. As chair of Sun Media Investment Holdings, a business empire she built with her husband, Yang is a pioneer of open communication. Yang started her journalism career by establishing the ?rst current-events TV program in China. She created and hosted many other groundbreaking shows, starting with the chatfest Yang Lan One on One. The popular Her Village, which now includes an online magazine and website, brings together China’s largest community of professional women (more than 200 million people a month). Yang, who served as an ambassador for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, wields her in?uence for philanthropic endeavors, too. She founded the Sun Culture Foundation in 2005 to raise awareness about poverty and to promote cross-cultural communication. “Yang stands out as a role model for women who want to achieve across the industry spectrum in an increasingly global society.” — The Paley Center for Media, “She Made It” Initiative, 2007.

About Yan Lan

Chairperson
Sun Media Group
Andrea Boza
Joint MPP/MBA
Harvard University

Andrea, a native of Barcelona, Spain, is a joint MBA and MPP candidate at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School and passionate about strengthening public-private partnerships to foster entrepreneurship, improve education-to-employment pathways and better apply technological innovation for the public good. With experience across the public, private and social sectors, Andrea has most recently worked at Generation You Employed, the fastest growing global social venture in the youth unemployment space, where she focused on implementing public-private partnerships to reduce unemployment and where she launched an up-skilling COVID-19 course for doctors and nurses in Spain, which has received over 25,000 participants. Prior to this, Andrea was a consultant at McKinsey & Company in Toronto, Canada where she advised leading financial institutions and a Consultant and Intern to the Under-Secretary General of the Department of Global Communications at the United Nations in New York. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Economics and Psychology with Distinction from McGill University, where she co-founded a social enterprise to rethink student-led international development projects in Latin America. She has been recognized as a McKinsey and Company’s Next Generation Women Leader in North America and as a Venture for Canada Fellow. At Harvard, Andrea is a recipient of the David M. Rubenstein Fellowship and the Real Colegio Complutense Fellowship.

About Andrea Boza

Joint MPP/MBA
Harvard University
Meritxell Bautista
CEO
Fibracat

Meritxell Bautista is the Co-Founder of Fibracat, the leading global telecommunications operator in Catalonia, and president of Fibracat TV. Meritxell Bautista is a businesswoman, wife, mother, feminist and supportive of female empowerment. She is a tireless fighter for making ICT Women visible in the telecommunications sector and for women’s empowerment in positions of responsibility. She has just received the 2020 DonaTIC award of the government of Catalonia for her business career and she is an ambassador for the SheLeader Foundation, promoting Women's Leadership. In her role, she has been nominated for the "Top Spanish Women Entrepreneurs 2019.”

About Meritxell Bautista

CEO
Fibracat
Ines Juste
CEO
Group Juste

Ines is the president of Grupo Juste, a leading player in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. The company is family owned and has more than 95 years of experience in research, development and distribution of diagnostic imaging pharmaceutical specialties and active pharmaceutical ingredients, exporting 98% of its output across the five continents for over 40 years. Ines belongs to the fourth generation of Grupo Juste and prepared herself through schooling and education to become its leader, which she did in 2011. She also holds many board seats, is a business school lecturer, guest speaker and is a member of several business associations.

About Ines Juste

CEO
Group Juste
Dima Ghawi
CEO
Dima Ghawi, LLC

My story is one of escaping confinements, shattering barriers, crossing continents, and daring to discover and create a bold identity and transformational life purpose. I came from a part of the world where I was taught, at an early age, to be follower, quiet, and subservient. I was fiercely constrained by the Middle Eastern culture, community, and family expectations that molded me to be absent of identity. My path was predetermined, my worth was decided by the judgment of others, and all that truly mattered was preserving the honor of my family’s reputation in my every action. It took me years before I was able to dare realize that I might have a choice - that I might have a greater value than I was taught. I knew to change my circumstances would be extremely dangerous and would require courage I had never known before. Nevertheless, I was determined to transform my world, embrace the unknown, and discover my true identity, even if I had to stand alone and face the painful life-threatening consequences of my decision. Finally the day of metamorphic transformation came. I began a new journey. I’m proud to share that, today, I draw from 18 years of global corporate experience and the harrowing trials of my own personal journey to establish this unique and empowering consulting company. I’m here to speak to the future leaders, the rebels and visionaries, those who are ready to shatter limitations, reach their full potential, and become a part of the global community for change. With experience leading global teams, managing strategic client relationships, and developing future leaders for companies like IBM, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America, I combine my corporate expertise with my own personal narratives to captivate and motivate my audiences, by reaching into the depths of people’s minds, hearts, and unkindled aspirations and sharing a vision of hope, courage, and wild possibilities. Through keynote speeches, workshops, training programs, coaching and the development of an online global community, I continue to share my unique leadership journey with one goal in mind: motivate and activate those around me to dare to grow into leadership roles and reimagine what they are truly capable of achieving.

About Dima Ghawi

CEO
Dima Ghawi, LLC
Ruth A. Davis
Career Ambassador (Ret.) , U.S. Department of State & IWEC Foundation Chairperson
IWEC Foundation

Ruth A. Davis is an internationalist who retired from the U.S. Department of State with the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the Foreign Service of the United States. Her assignments in the U.S. Department of State include Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources (2001-2003), Director of the Foreign Service Institute (1997-2001), Ambassador to the Republic of Benin (1992-1995), and U.S. Consul General in Barcelona, Spain (1987-1991). She was also posted in Kinshasa, Nairobi, Tokyo and Naples as a Consular Officer. Ambassador Davis was detailed to Howard University in Washington, DC as Distinguished Advisor for International Affairs and she served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor in the Bureau of African Affairs from 2005-2008. She has received two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards, the Arnold L. Raphel Memorial Award for mentoring, the 2005 Department of State Equal Opportunity Award, the Secretary’s Distinguished Award conferred by Colin L. Powell, and the International Career Advancement Program’s Award for visionary leadership and fostering diversity within foreign affairs. In 2015 she was named by the Economist Magazine as one of the ‘Top Diversity Figures in Public life’ and in 2016 she received the American Foreign Service Association’s Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy and the Link’s Co-Founder Award for International Service.

About Ruth A. Davis

Career Ambassador (Ret.) , U.S. Department of State & IWEC Foundation Chairperson
IWEC Foundation
HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan
Co-Founder, Kyan Foundation
JD

HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan joined IDG in 2015 as a consultant for the Middle East. Her responsibilities are to help build a world-class regional brand synonymous with leadership development programs that achieve sustainable behavioural change. Specifically, HRH Princess Noor Asem engages in strategic business development, as well as program design and facilitation. She is an executive and certified coach with The Coaching Training Institute (CTI), and has ample experience facilitating and designing programs on self-development and youth empowerment. HRH Princess Noor Asem is well travelled; she was born in Jordan, raised in Spain, and completed her education in the United States, which helped her embody a multi-cultural perspective. She has a degree in Political Communication and a Master’s degree in Positive Leadership and Strategy from the IE Business School in Madrid. HRH Princess Noor Asem speaks five languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Farsi. An entrepreneur and a pioneer in positive leadership in the Middle East, she is an active member in several organizations such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA) and the Institute of Coaching, an affiliate of McLean Hospital.

About HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan

Co-Founder, Kyan Foundation
JD
Ibukun Awosika
Board of Directors & IWEC Foundation President
First Bank of Nigeria

Ibukun Awosika is the Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria's premier and most valuable banking brand. She is also the founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group. The companies in the group include: The Chair Centre Limited, Sokoa Chair Centre Limited, Furniture Manufacturers Mart, TCC Security Systems and Cubes and Boxes Limited. These companies are involved in manufacturing, retail and bank-way security systems services. Ibukun chairs a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards amongst which are: GEMS Africa, House of Tara International and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), a facility which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in Nigeria. She sits on the boards of Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Digital Jewel Limited and Convention on Business Integrity (CBI). She was Chairman, FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited and Kakawa Discount House Limited. She also served on the board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria; an alumna of the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School; the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain; and Global CEO Program of Wharton, IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS).

About Ibukun Awosika

Board of Directors & IWEC Foundation President
First Bank of Nigeria
Sadhguru Vasudev
Indian Author & Yogi
Isha Foundation

Sadhguru, a yogi and profound mystic of our times, is a visionary humanitarian and a prominent spiritual leader. A contemporary Guru, rooted as strongly in mundane and pragmatic matters as he is in inner experience and wisdom, Sadhguru works tirelessly towards the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of all. His mastery of the mechanisms of life, an outcome of his profound experience of the Self, guides in exploring the subtler dimensions of life. At home in loincloth as much as he is in blue jeans, barefoot through the mighty Himalayas, or straddling a BMW motorcycle on the expressway, Sadhguru is the most unusual mystic that one can encounter. Marking a clear departure from mere customs and rituals, Sadhguru's scientific methods for self-transformation are both direct and powerful. Belonging to no particular tradition, Sadhguru incorporates and presents what is most valid for the contemporary life from the yogic sciences. Sadhguru speaks at some of the world's most prominent international leadership forums. In January 2007, he participated in four panels at the World Economic Forum and spoke on issues ranging from diplomacy and economic development, to education and the environment. In 2006, he addressed the World Economic Forum, the Tallberg Forum in Sweden, and the Australian Leadership Retreat. He has also served as a delegate to the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit and the World Peace Congress. Sadhguru's vision and understanding of modern social and economic issues have led to interviews with BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNNf, and Newsweek International. His insights are regularly featured in India's leading national newspapers. A well-known public figure, he regularly draws crowds of more than 300,000 people for his public talks and "sathsangs" (group meditation).

About Sadhguru Vasudev

Indian Author & Yogi
Isha Foundation
Denise Evans
Vice President, Diverse Partner Development
IBM Corporation

Denise leads an organization responsible for ensuring that businesses owned by Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans in North America and women owned, led and influenced businesses, globally - understand how to leverage technology to accelerate the growth and success of their businesses. She has served globally in numerous leadership and executive positions in IBM for 40+ years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Women Presidents’ Organization, Enterprising Women Magazine, The Galt Foundation, The National Alliance for Mental Illness - MD, International Planning Committee - Global Summit of Women, advisory board of The S.O.L.V.E. Group, and is an expert community member of Catalyst. Denise has been featured in several magazines as a “top IBM executive” advocating for diverse businesses, numerous magazines and books on leadership and received recognition – most recently the “Woman of Impact Leadership” Award from Impact Leadership 21 at the United Nations and the “World of Difference” Award from The International Alliance of Women. Denise is a global citizen who has traveled across 5 continents, a mentor to many in marketing and sales and a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the Nations’ Capital. Denise earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

About Denise Evans

Vice President, Diverse Partner Development
IBM Corporation
Fernando Hernandez
Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability
Microsoft

Mr. Hernandez serves as Supplier Diversity & Sustainability Director for Microsoft Corporation. In this capacity, he drives Microsoft’s strategies to achieve supplier diversity sustainability & objectives. He is responsible for Microsoft’s $2.8 Billion annual Supplier Diversity initiative. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Hernandez served as Senior Vice President of Multicultural Marketing Strategy for Washington Mutual Bank where he established, developed, and implemented comprehensive multicultural marketing initiatives. He formerly served as Executive Director of Multicultural Marketing with AT&T. Mr. Hernandez was the first to establish and implement multicultural business to business and consumer marketing (Hispanic, African-American, and Asian) at AT&T in 1991. This resulted in the creation of a $3 billion market segment. Fernando has received many awards including NMSDC Leadership Award, Island Medal of Honor recipient and Hispanic Magazine 100 most influential Hispanics in America. The American Marketing Association recognized him for his leadership in multicultural marketing.

About Fernando Hernandez

Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability
Microsoft
Lori Epstein
President
Lori Epstein Consulting Group, LLC

Lori Epstein, president of Lori Epstein Consulting Group, is a well-respected attorney and expert in sophisticated estate, business and retirement case design. Ms. Epstein has a very impressive resume, including her current position providing invaluable case design, training and marketing support to Fortis Lux Financial. Lori focuses much of her energy on planning for non-traditional couples, families with a child or dependent with special needs and planning for women and small businesses. Before Lori’s most recent corporate position as Vice President of MassMutual’s Advanced Markets and Financial Planning organizations, she held significant positions related to estate, business and financial planning for more than 20 years at MetLife. She was instrumental in attracting more advisors to the practice of Financial Planning, providing the critical training and support necessary for them to be more productive. Ms. Epstein serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Venture Fund and in 2014, was a recipient of the Fund’s Highest Leaf Award which honors women whose business or professional contributions have significantly impacted their industry. She has also received the Women on the Move award from The Arthritis Foundation which honors women of achievement who are role models in their professional, philanthropic or individual endeavors. Lori is a sought after speaker on such topics as estate planning, planning for same sex couples and individuals with special needs, as well as helping women plan for a secure financial future. She has been a featured speaker at numerous national events including Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), Wine, Women and Wall Street and MetLife’s Women’s Sales Forum. Lori is a proud member of Toastmasters International, SEC Roughriders Club of NYC.

About Lori Epstein

President
Lori Epstein Consulting Group, LLC
Janine Myburgh
Managing Director & IWEC Foundation Board Member
Myburgh Attorneys

Janine is the Managing Director of Myburgh Attorneys Incorporated, established on 1 August 1999. Janine is and has been in practice for 25 years with a wide client base nationally and internationally. She is a renowned litigator, negotiator and facilitator and has a right of appearance in the High Court. She has completed the advanced judicial training with the aim of serving on the bench with a pass rate of 75%. Janine serves on the regulatory body of the Legal Practice Council (the only white woman Attorney to be elected) and previously served on the Law Society of South Africa Council at the Cape Law Society as a Council Member. She assisted the Nelson Mandela Fund in the child witness training program. Janine is the former President of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The only women to be elected to this esteemed position in its 215-year history. She was the youngest person elected to this position and re-elected seven (7) times. She is also the former President of the South African Council of Business Women, the youngest woman to ever be elected in this position. She served for a period of two (2) terms in this position. Among her credits, she has been awarded honorary membership status of the United Nations (UN) for the service to society internationally. She is the former Black Staff Trustee of Prudential Black Staff Trust as elected by the black staff. She was the founding chairperson of the National Accredited Chambers of Commerce. She is the Board Member of the International Womens Entrepreneurship Challenges representing South Africa and is the Honorary Consul to Canada. Janine is well respected amongst her peers and is known as an independent thinker and strong leader. She counts numerous awards amongst many of her accolades. As recently as one month ago, she was awarded the Woman of Wonder Award for empowering, inspiring women and by showing immense strength of character. Janine also last month was the first runner up in the inaugural WOZA Awards, National Awards for Attorneys for her leadership and mentorship in the profession. She is a sought-after speaker locally, nationally, as well as internationally.

About Janine Myburgh

Managing Director & IWEC Foundation Board Member
Myburgh Attorneys
Carmen Castillo
CEO & IWEC Foundation Vice Chair
SDI International

Carmen Castillo is the President and CEO of SDI International Corp. (SDI), one of the largest Hispanic- and woman-owned companies in the world, with a portfolio of managed spend of over $3B. The company—which she founded in Florida in 1992— provides its clients with fully scalable global indirect procurement solutions centered around the tail end of the supply chain. These programs are designed to manage large numbers of small suppliers handling non-critical/non-catalogue transactions that are often untracked, resulting in inefficiencies in process times, compliance, and costs. “We make ourselves indispensable to our clients by building globally and acting locally,” Carmen states. Her mantra is evident in SDI’s global footprint, which includes operations hubs in the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, India, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, UAE, and the United Kingdom. SDI has distinguished itself as a provider of repeatable hard cost savings delivered through cutting-edge technology, risk assessment, quality policies, and a dedicated team. Carmen is a staunch proponent of paying it forward and corporate social responsibility. As a business leader, Carmen takes on ten mentees per year—among them women entrepreneurs (many of them Hispanic)—to share her insights and experience, with special focus on hiring, retention, business development, and international expansion. More importantly, Carmen facilitates networking opportunities and introductions between her mentees and her extensive network of corporate contacts and peers. From an advocacy perspective, Carmen acts as Chairwoman of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), Vice Chair of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC), and she also collaborates with the boards of many other minority- and woman-owned business organizations. Under her leadership, SDI holds an international Memo of Undertaking to cross-collaborate with the International Trade Centre, and the UN Global Compact featured Carmen in their 2017 global Study of CEOs committed to sustainable development goals. Carmen has also accumulated several industry awards throughout the years, including an induction to the 2016 WBE Hall of Fame. In 2017, Carmen received the Abe Venable Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Carmen is a native Spanish speaker and is fluent in English and Italian.

About Carmen Castillo

CEO & IWEC Foundation Vice Chair
SDI International

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Sessions on Nov 09, 2020

11:00 AM

Welcome Remarks

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
  • +3
  • Adela Subirana

    IWEC Foundation Vice President

    Barcelona Chamber of Commerce

11:20 AM

Welcome Note by the IWEC Foundation President Ibukun Awosika

11:20 AM - 11:35 AM
  • Ibukun Awosika

    Board of Directors & IWEC Foundation President

    First Bank of Nigeria

11:35 AM

2020 IWEC Foundation Statistics & Awardees

11:35 AM - 11:40 AM
  • Dima Ghawi

    CEO

    Dima Ghawi, LLC

11:40 AM

Presentation by Regina O. Heyward, Wells Fargo

11:40 AM - 11:50 AM
  • Regina O. Heyward

    Senior Vice President & Head of Diversity

    Wells Fargo

11:50 AM

Virtual Networking

11:50 AM - 12:20 PM
12:20 PM

Break

12:20 PM - 12:50 PM
12:50 PM

Presentation - Interview with Sadhguru, Asha Foundation

12:50 PM - 01:35 PM
  • +2
  • Harjinder Kaur

    CEO

    Comvision India

01:35 PM

Keynote - Denise Evans, IBM, “Back to Business & Emerging Smarter Beyond COVID-19”

01:35 PM - 02:05 PM
  • Denise Evans

    Vice President, Diverse Partner Development

    IBM Corporation

02:05 PM

Introduction of Awardees Part I

02:05 PM - 02:30 PM

Sessions on Nov 10, 2020

11:00 AM

Keynote: Fernando Hernandez, Microsoft, Digital Transformation - 2 Years Packed into 2 Months

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Fernando Hernandez

    Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability

    Microsoft

11:30 AM

Panel Discussion: Bridging the Gap Between Generations to Co-Create a Sustainable Future

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
  • +5
  • Pedro Nueno

    Professor

    IESE Barcelona

12:15 PM

Presentation-Janine Myburgh, Cape Chamber, "IWEC Foundation NextGen & Dreams Beyond Borders Programs"

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
  • Janine Myburgh

    Managing Director & IWEC Foundation Board Member

    Myburgh Attorneys

12:30 PM

Break

12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
01:00 PM

Keynote: Lori Epstein, Lori Epstein Consulting, “Successful Succession Strategies”

01:00 PM - 01:30 PM
  • Lori Epstein

    President

    Lori Epstein Consulting Group, LLC

01:30 PM

Virtual Networking

01:30 PM - 02:05 PM
02:05 PM

Introduction of Awardees Part II

02:05 PM - 02:25 PM
02:25 PM

Closing Remarks

02:25 PM - 02:30 PM
  • Carmen Castillo

    CEO & IWEC Foundation Vice Chair

    SDI International