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Women’s Leadership Institute

Women’s Executive Leadership Program Participants

Women’s Executive Leadership Program:
Class of 2014

Biographies are listed by class year:
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Rachel Briley Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Greensboro   Industry: AcademiaAt UNCG, she leads the M.F.A. program in Theatre for Youth and the Artistic Director of the North Carolina Theatre for Young People. Rachel has expertise in integrating American Sign Language (ASL), music, and drama in the education of the young child. She is also drawn to work in the drama classroom that explores social inequities and inspires students to become more actively involved in their communities.

Rachel Briley
Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Greensboro Industry: Academia

At UNCG, she leads the M.F.A. program in Theatre for Youth and the Artistic Director of the North Carolina Theatre for Young People. Rachel has expertise in integrating American Sign Language (ASL), music, and drama in the education of the young child. She is also drawn to work in the drama classroom that explores social inequities and inspires students to become more actively involved in their communities.

Rachel Briley

Allison DeVito Legislative Council, United States Air Force                                Industry: Military, LegalCaptain Allison DeVito currently serves as Legislative Counsel for Office of Air Force General Counsel for the United States Air Force, providing legal and policy advice to Air Force senior leaders and the Air Force on administrative law, civilian personnel, ethics, fiscal law, and legislative matters. Prior to entering the Air Force, she served as a law clerk at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and as a Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Betty Sutton. She holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of Notre Dame.

Allison DeVito
Legislative Council, United States Air Force Industry: Military, Legal

Captain Allison DeVito currently serves as Legislative Counsel for Office of Air Force General Counsel for the United States Air Force, providing legal and policy advice to Air Force senior leaders and the Air Force on administrative law, civilian personnel, ethics, fiscal law, and legislative matters. Prior to entering the Air Force, she served as a law clerk at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and as a Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Betty Sutton. She holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of Notre Dame.

Allison DeVito
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Monique Brunson Jones, LCSW President & CEO, Evanston Community Foundation                      Industry: NonprofitMonique helps the Evanston community thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and just community, the Evanston Community Foundation builds, connects, and distributes resources and knowledge through local organizations for the common good. She also maintains a limited teletherapy private practice for the past 15 years; Monique’s background includes working with women and young adults impacted by grief, loss, and traumatic experiences.

Monique Brunson Jones, LCSW
President & CEO, Evanston Community Foundation Industry: Nonprofit

Monique helps the Evanston community thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and just community, the Evanston Community Foundation builds, connects, and distributes resources and knowledge through local organizations for the common good. She also maintains a limited teletherapy private practice for the past 15 years; Monique’s background includes working with women and young adults impacted by grief, loss, and traumatic experiences.

Monique Brunson Jones, LCSW
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Karen Dunn Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP         Industry: LegalPrior to joining the firm, Ms. Dunn served in all three branches of government. She worked in the White House as Associate Counsel to President Barack Obama, in the Eastern District of Virginia as an Assistant United States Attorney, in the Senate as communications director and a senior advisor to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and as a law clerk first to Judge Merrick B. Garland of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and then to Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ms. Dunn is also an expert in crisis management. Throughout her career, Ms. Dunn has acted in public-facing and government-facing roles in which she was responsible for managing the response to developing crises.

Karen Dunn
Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Industry: Legal

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Dunn served in all three branches of government. She worked in the White House as Associate Counsel to President Barack Obama, in the Eastern District of Virginia as an Assistant United States Attorney, in the Senate as communications director and a senior advisor to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and as a law clerk first to Judge Merrick B. Garland of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and then to Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ms. Dunn is also an expert in crisis management. Throughout her career, Ms. Dunn has acted in public-facing and government-facing roles in which she was responsible for managing the response to developing crises.

Eva De La Rosa Head of Network Marketing, Citi  Industry: MarketingEva De La Rosa is a strategic business leader with over ten years of professional experience in marketing, sales, and business development. She has diversified experience in the financial services, retail, and consumer goods industries and has held various positions at Coca-Cola, BP, and American Express. Eva serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Children’s Nature Institute, California Hispanic Corporate Council and Leadership Institute, and the Duke Alumni Association of Southern California.

Eva De La Rosa
Head of Network Marketing, Citi Industry: Marketing

Eva De La Rosa is a strategic business leader with over ten years of professional experience in marketing, sales, and business development. She has diversified experience in the financial services, retail, and consumer goods industries and has held various positions at Coca-Cola, BP, and American Express. Eva serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Children’s Nature Institute, California Hispanic Corporate Council and Leadership Institute, and the Duke Alumni Association of Southern California.

Eva De La Rosa
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Ann Gillespie President & CEO, Envision Impact, LLC Industry: ConsultingAnn works with C-Suite Teams on partnering on mission-aligned strategy development and delivery in complex environments, harnessing collective wisdom and inspiring systems thinking to set the stage for collaboration with lasting impact, establishing plans, driving quality improvements, and leading mission-driven teams, and galvanizing governing boards, senior management teams, and stakeholders to achieve sustainable change. She also volunteers with Francis in the Schools which plans and implements educational outings for children from low-income neighborhoods, and continues her trustee role with the Foundation for Autism Support and Training (FAST).

Ann Gillespie
President & CEO, Envision Impact, LLC
Industry: Consulting

Ann works with C-Suite Teams on partnering on mission-aligned strategy development and delivery in complex environments, harnessing collective wisdom and inspiring systems thinking to set the stage for collaboration with lasting impact, establishing plans, driving quality improvements, and leading mission-driven teams, and galvanizing governing boards, senior management teams, and stakeholders to achieve sustainable change. She also volunteers with Francis in the Schools which plans and implements educational outings for children from low-income neighborhoods, and continues her trustee role with the Foundation for Autism Support and Training (FAST).

Ann Gillespie
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Caroline Kim Founder, Wavelength Solutions   Community Lead - Philadelphia and New York, PICA - Professional Independent Consultant of America           Industry: BusinessAt Wavelength Solutions, Caroline launches strategy consulting firm focused on blending strategy and social purpose for clients including executive teams at Fortune 50 companies and international non-profit organizations. With more than ten years of experience in the commercial, international development, global health, and not-for-profit market, she is a recognized leader and expert in strategic planning, reputation management, change management, multi-stakeholder coalition-building. She has developed and led multi-million dollar engagements with Fortune 50 organizations and international development organizations.

Caroline Kim
Founder, Wavelength Solutions Community Lead - Philadelphia and New York, PICA - Professional Independent Consultant of America Industry: Business

At Wavelength Solutions, Caroline launches strategy consulting firm focused on blending strategy and social purpose for clients including executive teams at Fortune 50 companies and international non-profit organizations. With more than ten years of experience in the commercial, international development, global health, and not-for-profit market, she is a recognized leader and expert in strategic planning, reputation management, change management, multi-stakeholder coalition-building. She has developed and led multi-million dollar engagements with Fortune 50 organizations and international development organizations.

Caroline Kim
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Kristen Panerali Head of Electricity Industry, World Economic Forum    Industry: Business, EnergyKristen has 20 years of experience in the public sector and energy-related private sector. As Head of Electricity Industry at the Forum, Kristen leads content on the transformation of the electricity sector among power, distribution and energy technology companies. Ms. Panerali has a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain. She speaks English, Spanish, French, and Romanian.

Kristen Panerali
Head of Electricity Industry, World Economic Forum Industry: Business, Energy

Kristen has 20 years of experience in the public sector and energy-related private sector. As Head of Electricity Industry at the Forum, Kristen leads content on the transformation of the electricity sector among power, distribution and energy technology companies. Ms. Panerali has a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain. She speaks English, Spanish, French, and Romanian.

Kristen Panerali
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Erin Mazursky Founder & CEO, Rhize                                                    Industry: NonprofitErin Mazursky is the Co-Founder and President of Rhize, a new venture that is redesigning the function and experience of democracy towards more participatory, just, and flourishing communities through the innovation of collective action. Erin brings over a decade of experience in movement-building, technology, human rights, and advocacy to her work, having worked with social and political movements around the world, including in Turkey, India, and Albania. She is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, a 2010 fellow at New Leaders Council, blogger at the Huffington Post and a Fellow at the Truman National Security Project.

Erin Mazursky
Founder & CEO, Rhize Industry: Nonprofit

Erin Mazursky is the Co-Founder and President of Rhize, a new venture that is redesigning the function and experience of democracy towards more participatory, just, and flourishing communities through the innovation of collective action. Erin brings over a decade of experience in movement-building, technology, human rights, and advocacy to her work, having worked with social and political movements around the world, including in Turkey, India, and Albania. She is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, a 2010 fellow at New Leaders Council, blogger at the Huffington Post and a Fellow at the Truman National Security Project.

Erin Mazursky
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Shayla Price  Shayla Price serves as the Executive Director for the National Search Dog Alliance, where she focuses on multiple national projects aimed at increasing the capacity of the organization and carrying out its mission of strengthening the …

Shayla Price

Shayla Price serves as the Executive Director for the National Search Dog Alliance, where she focuses on multiple national projects aimed at increasing the capacity of the organization and carrying out its mission of strengthening the canine search and rescue community. She brings more than 10 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, and leadership development, which includes a Research Associate position in Kampala, Uganda. Shayla is passionate about helping individuals and organizations achieve social impact. Her projects have involved supporting the redesign of a talent recruitment strategy for a nonprofit, assessing a social media plan for a startup, and developing a brand messaging campaign for a state agency. She also led a cross-functional team that increased access to nutritious food for poverty-stricken families. Shayla is a New Leaders Council Fellow and an instructor for Scholarship Winner, an online course teaching students how to earn college scholarships. She has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Kansas City and as a board member for SCOUT BANANA and the Alliance for Positive Youth Development. Shayla was named one of EBONY magazine’s Heroes Next Door and honored with the Daily Points of Light Award. She has written about nonprofit leadership for the Huffington Post, VolunteerMatch, and other publications. A Louisiana native, Shayla graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing with a concentration in Sales from Southern University and A&M College and holds a Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center.

Shayla Price
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Jackie Norris President & CEO, Goodwill of Central Iowa                          Industry: Nonprofit, GovernmentJackie has 20 years of experience in managing high-profile public affairs and corporate initiatives. Combining her experience in federal government, national and statewide political campaigns, nonprofit and academia, she has incubated, developed and managed numerous campaigns and initiatives from inception to implementation. Her current role is President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa. Previously, she served as Assistant to President Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. Jackie developed a strategic plan to address the issues the First Lady is involved with including healthy eating and supporting America’s military families.

Jackie Norris
President & CEO, Goodwill of Central Iowa Industry: Nonprofit, Government

Jackie has 20 years of experience in managing high-profile public affairs and corporate initiatives. Combining her experience in federal government, national and statewide political campaigns, nonprofit and academia, she has incubated, developed and managed numerous campaigns and initiatives from inception to implementation. Her current role is President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa. Previously, she served as Assistant to President Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. Jackie developed a strategic plan to address the issues the First Lady is involved with including healthy eating and supporting America’s military families.

Jackie Norris
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Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio Regional Program Manager, Action on Climate Today   Industry: Nonprofit, EnvironmentCristina is an environment and international development professional with 15 years of experience working on a wide variety of environment, poverty, and resilience challenges. She has worked and lived in the United States, South and Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Latin America. Dr. Rumbaitis del Rio was a postdoctoral fellow conducting research on sustainable development at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. She also did policy research for the United Nations Environmental Program, the U.S. Department of State and other institutions.

Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio
Regional Program Manager, Action on Climate Today Industry: Nonprofit, Environment

Cristina is an environment and international development professional with 15 years of experience working on a wide variety of environment, poverty, and resilience challenges. She has worked and lived in the United States, South and Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Latin America. Dr. Rumbaitis del Rio was a postdoctoral fellow conducting research on sustainable development at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. She also did policy research for the United Nations Environmental Program, the U.S. Department of State and other institutions.

Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio
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Maya RupertMaya joined NCLR in 2010 to advance NCLR’s federal policy and legislative priorities. Maya’s work includes advocacy in many areas including federal legislation and regulations on housing, family policy, health, and employment. She has wor…

Maya Rupert

Maya joined NCLR in 2010 to advance NCLR’s federal policy and legislative priorities. Maya’s work includes advocacy in many areas including federal legislation and regulations on housing, family policy, health, and employment. She has worked closely with the administration on several of its most significant achievements extending equal rights and protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their families. She was a lead partner with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create the historic LGBT Equal Access Rule, the first-of-its-kind nondiscrimination rule enacted by HUD to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status. She has worked closely with other agencies as they have undertaken efforts to replicate this rule. She was also a lead partner with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) implementation of the 2011 Hospital Visitation Rule, which provided equal access to visitation for LGBT patients, families, and loved ones. She also was closely involved in advocacy efforts that led to the administration refusing to continue to defend the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA). Maya has also been a regular contributing writer to a number of media outlets—including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Huffington Post—where she frequently addresses the intersection of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Her writing has won awards from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for her writing. She has also been recognized by national outlets Ebony Magazine and The Root for being one of the most influential African-American leaders in the country. Maya received her B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara in 2003, and her J.D. from U.C. Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 2006. In 2007, Maya clerked for the Honorable Eric L. Clay of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to joining NCLR, she was an associate with Sidley Austin LLP’s Los Angeles office where she practiced in the firm’s appellate group.

Maya Rupert

Nicole Sabado Green Senior Covenant Analyst, Xtract Research LLC.                        Industry: Legal  Nicole Sabado Green is an Associate with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. During her WELP Fellowship she was a Covenant Analyst at Xtract Research LLC, where she provides covenant focused legal analysis to fixed income professionals. She has over twelve years of experience as a capital markets, corporate finance and restructuring attorney. Nicole was previously a counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP and also practiced at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. Nicole has represented public and private companies, private equity sponsors and financial institutions in complex corporate transactions such secured and unsecured high yield debt offerings and other debt financings, Chapter 11 bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings. She also has extensive private equity and capital markets experience. At O’Melveny, Nicole actively participated in the professional development of young attorneys, served as a member of her office’s employment, mentoring and summer program committees and was a member of a planning committee for her firm’s women’s leadership academy. Nicole received her law degree from Fordham University School of Law where she was Order of the Coif and an editor of the Fordham Law Review. Nicole graduated cum laude in Government at Harvard University. Nicole also has experience in the not-for-profit sector as a Policy Analyst and Voters Directory Coordinator for the Citizens Union of the City of New York, a good government organization founded in 1897, and as a Project Coordinator for the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Nicole Sabado Green
Senior Covenant Analyst, Xtract Research LLC. Industry: Legal

Nicole Sabado Green is an Associate with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. During her WELP Fellowship she was a Covenant Analyst at Xtract Research LLC, where she provides covenant focused legal analysis to fixed income professionals. She has over twelve years of experience as a capital markets, corporate finance and restructuring attorney. Nicole was previously a counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP and also practiced at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. Nicole has represented public and private companies, private equity sponsors and financial institutions in complex corporate transactions such secured and unsecured high yield debt offerings and other debt financings, Chapter 11 bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings. She also has extensive private equity and capital markets experience. At O’Melveny, Nicole actively participated in the professional development of young attorneys, served as a member of her office’s employment, mentoring and summer program committees and was a member of a planning committee for her firm’s women’s leadership academy. Nicole received her law degree from Fordham University School of Law where she was Order of the Coif and an editor of the Fordham Law Review. Nicole graduated cum laude in Government at Harvard University. Nicole also has experience in the not-for-profit sector as a Policy Analyst and Voters Directory Coordinator for the Citizens Union of the City of New York, a good government organization founded in 1897, and as a Project Coordinator for the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Nicole Sabado Green
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Ruti Smithline Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP          Industry: LegalRuti Smithline is a partner in the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Criminal Defense Group. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on white-collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement, securities litigation, and corporate internal investigations. Ruti has represented individual and corporate defendants in criminal investigations, SEC enforcement matters, and other regulatory proceedings, including matters related to trade sanctions and anti-money laundering. She was born and raised in Colombia and is fluent in Spanish; Ruti has conducted investigations, seminars and anti-corruption training in Spanish in Central and South America.

Ruti Smithline
Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP Industry: Legal

Ruti Smithline is a partner in the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Criminal Defense Group. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on white-collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement, securities litigation, and corporate internal investigations. Ruti has represented individual and corporate defendants in criminal investigations, SEC enforcement matters, and other regulatory proceedings, including matters related to trade sanctions and anti-money laundering. She was born and raised in Colombia and is fluent in Spanish; Ruti has conducted investigations, seminars and anti-corruption training in Spanish in Central and South America.

Ruti Smithline
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