11th Annual AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network Conference

The agenda below is in Eastern Time.

Download a PDF of the agenda.

8:30 – 9:00 am Registration and Breakfast

9:00 – 9:05 am Welcoming Remarks

• Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA

9:05 – 9:30 am Keynote Remarks

• Sarah Aiosa, SVP & President, Latin America, Merck
• Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA

9:30 – 10:30 am Panel I: The Power of Example: The Impact of Women’s Representation

Despite progress in recent years, women are still underrepresented at every level of the corporate ladder. A 2021 McKinsey & Company report revealed that women comprise less than 25 percent of C-Suite roles, with only 4 percent representing women of color. Within Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reports that women hold only 15 percent of management positions and own only 14 percent of companies across the region. From politics and technology to entertainment and journalism, greater representation of women is essential for societies’ economic growth and development. This panel will feature senior leaders from a variety of sectors to discuss the impact of diverse representation and policies that drive cultural change. Does representation matter in your field? Is diverse representation enough to foster inclusive workplaces? Who is someone who inspired you to dream bigger and go further in your career than you originally thought? What impact can greater gender representation have on future generations? What policies can incentivize greater women's leadership in the corporate world?

• Jeannine Acevedo, Partner, White & Case
• Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Managing Director & Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Blackrock
• Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo, Consul General of Brazil in New York
• Julianne Canavaggio, CEO, Latin America, Lazard (moderator)

10:30 – 11:00 am Coffee and Networking Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Panel II: Finding Fulfillment in Reshaping your Career Path

Globally, women’s careers have been disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more women than men having to leave their jobs because of unexpected responsibilities or felt their careers stall due to outside forces. Now, as we reach the endemic stage of COVID-19, women are seeking to take back control over their careers and re-evaluate what makes them happy. Career pivots require self-reflection, networking, learning new skills, and increasing one’s tolerance for uncertainty, which remains a key challenge. Why is it important to take risks in your career? How do you know it’s the right time to make a change? How can you reinvent your career even if you’re not looking to leave your current role? Recognizing that employees are seeking greater work-life balance more than ever before, how can organizations offer greater flexibility and opportunities to recharge in order to retain female talent?

• Rafael Chaves, Global Policy & ESG Executive Director, Organon
• Nur Cristiani, Head of Latin America Investment Strategy, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
• Pippa Scarlett, Head of Global Government Affairs, RELX
• Shelly Banjo, New York Bureau Chief, Bloomberg (moderator)

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch Conversation with Table Leaders & Networking

The Table Leader Session, which will be served over lunch, is an opportunity for networking, mentoring, and exchanging experiences among conference participants. Conversations last about 45 minutes at tables of about eight participants. The session also provides an opportunity to discuss issues raised by speakers during the panels, seek career advice from industry leaders, and share one’s own professional experience. After the discussions, some of the table leaders will be invited to share conclusions and impressions of their respective conversations with the audience. After the discussions, there will be some time for networking before the end of the program.

• Edith Avilés, Managing Director, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice 
• Rafael Chaves, Global Policy, Government Affairs and ESG Executive Director at Organon
• Laura Dachner, Executive Director, Merck
• Cecilia De La Macorra, Senior Director, Exxon Mobil Corporation
• Nimbe Ewald, Government Affairs Manager for Mexico, Central America and Caribbean, Apple
• Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo, Consul General of Brazil in New York
• Bibiana Jaimes, Partner at White & Case
• Cintia Lucci, Strategic Project Director at Instituto Butantan
• Madelka McCalla, Chief Corporate Affairs and Social Impact Officer, The AES Corporation
• Pippa Scarlett, Head of Global Government Affairs, RELX
• Claudio Selma, Executive Director, UBS