2026 WLC SPEAKERS
Read about our speakers and topics for WLC 2026!
PHYLLIS A. JAMES
FOUNDER & CEO, FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP & EMPOWERMENT
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PHYLLIS A. JAMES is Founding President and CEO of the Foundation for Women’s Leadership & Empowerment (“FWLE”), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization established in May 2019 to help remedy one of America’s and the world’s most urgent needs – access by women and women of color to high-quality educational experiences that prepare them (as well as men) for leadership roles across society. With founding support from MGM Resorts International, FWLE seeks to expand the pipeline of women leaders through Las Vegas’ Women’s Leadership Conference (“WLC”) – one of the, if not the, premier women’s development conferences in the western United States, and other accessible programs.
Ms. James has a distinguished multi-disciplinary career history as a lawyer and C-suite executive:
Seventeen (17) years at MGM Resorts – where she served as Chief Diversity and Corporate Responsibility Officer for more than a decade; as the principal management liaison to the parent corporation’s Board of Directors CSR/ESG Committee; and as head of Company litigation during most of her tenure. She played a seminal role in the evolution of MGM’s industry-leading CSR/ESG diversity and inclusion, philanthropy, and volunteerism initiatives into a cohesive business and social impact platform, embedding DEI values into the company’s culture and business operations.
Eight (8) years as Corporation Counsel (Chief Legal Officer) for the City of Detroit under Mayor Dennis W. Archer – where she served as lead lawyer for the City in several legacy economic revitalization projects (e.g., Comerica Park, Ford Field, Campus Martius downtown business district, and Detroit gaming industry); counsel for the Mayor’s Office, the Executive branch, and the City’s legislative branch (City Council); and Law Director for a department of approximately 100 lawyers.
Fifteen (15) years in private law practice, first as an associate and then as a partner specializing in complex commercial litigation, at the San Francisco-based firm of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) – where she became the firm’s first African American partner.
Beyond her executive and legal experience, Ms. James has served on several for-profit and non-profit boards of directors. She is a member of the Strategic Advisory board of algoface.ai, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence enterprise, and has served for almost two decades as a member of the MGM Grand Detroit, LLC board. Her most recent non-profit service includes the boards of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, Nevada Legal Services Inc. and previously the MGM Resorts Foundation.
Throughout her career Ms. James has been active in numerous bar association and civic affairs and has received several recognitions for her legal accomplishments and civic contributions, including Outstanding Business achievement as One of the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity (Black Enterprise Magazine); Human Rights Campaign – Las Vegas Equality Award for outstanding service to the LGBTQ community (2017); the National Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2016); and admission to the American Law Institute, the leading independent U.S. organization producing scholarly legal word (2015).
Ms. James earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American History and Literature from Harvard/Radcliffe College after having received the honors of Phi Beta Kapa junior year, the Captain Jonathan Fay Prize (then Radcliffe College’s highest honor for a graduating woman based on the graduate’s scholarship, conduct and character) and the Isobelle T. Briggs Fellowship for Graduate Study. She commenced her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Theodore R. Newman, Jr., then Chief Judge of the District of Colombia Court of Appeals.
SALLY ALLEN
EXECUTIVE COACH
AUTHOR
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Sally Allen is an Executive Mindset Coach, author, podcaster, speaker, and President of the International Association of Women Las Vegas Chapter. She helps leaders strengthen their mindset, lead with clarity under pressure, and build high-performing, people-centered teams that create measurable impact.
Sally is a two-time Stevie Award winner, was featured on the NBC Washington Rising Woman Series as one of the Top 25 Global Women Thought Leaders, and was featured on MSN as one of the Top 10 Visionary Entrepreneurs Shaping the Future in 2026. She was also recognized by Influence Digest as one of the Top 15 Coaches in Las Vegas for 2025–2026. Sally is the author of The MINDSET Framework, a leadership mindset book that gives leaders practical tools to rewire unhelpful thinking, navigate difficult conversations, and lead with confidence and courage.
As the Founder of The Mindset Conference, Sally brings leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers together for powerful conversations around mindset, leadership, visibility, and community impact.
Sally’s work is built on one powerful belief: when leaders change the way they think, they change the way they lead. And when leaders change the way they lead, they change teams, cultures, and outcomes.
HAYDEE ANTEZANA
LEADERSHIP EXPERT
AUTHOR
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Haydee’s childhood was a masterclass in thriving amid disruption & change ─ by age 10, she had lived on four continents!
From rising to become the youngest director at multinational L’Oréal to owning retail stores, a manufacturing company, & a professional development firm, her journey embodies resilience, agility, and reinvention. For 27 years, her expertise, high energy, and practical solutions have impacted thousands of leaders and teams globally ─ from casinos to Fortune 500 companies to industry associations. Her book, “Packaged For Success,” became a #1 international Amazon bestseller in 11 categories—a remarkable achievement for a Bolivian girl who once dreamed of speaking English.
She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP – a designation held by only 12% of speakers worldwide), Leadership Expert, Brand Strategist, Reinvention Practitioner, and Ethical Influence expert.
JENNIFER BUCK
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT, THE LEETS CONSORTIUM
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Jennifer brings more than 25 years of experience as a leader, executive consultant, and entrepreneur across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. She has partnered with senior leaders across a broad range of industries, including entertainment, media, technology, healthcare, and consumer products. Jennifer is widely respected for her direct, no-nonsense communication style and her unwavering focus on outcomes, earning her the trust of executives as a valued thought partner and advisor.
As a facilitator and executive consultant, Jennifer is known for designing and delivering business-driven, results-oriented learning experiences that resonate with leaders at all levels. She believes the most impactful development happens through a true coach–client partnership grounded in open, honest dialogue. Drawing on her background as a seasoned business leader, Jennifer tailors her approach to the unique needs of each individual, team, and organization. She both challenges and supports leaders as they sharpen their leadership capabilities, strengthen decision-making, and navigate the increasing complexity of their roles.
Jennifer has supported leaders through The Leets Consortium’s Leader’s Leverage engagements and internal coach training programs, partnering with organizations including MGM Resorts International, UCLA Health, PNNL, FedEx Logistics, TriPointe Homes, Mark IV Capital, Ventura Foods, Hyundai Capital, Ingram Micro, Canon Medical, Mitsubishi Electric, Green Street Advisors, and the Latham & Watkins Women’s Leadership Program, as well as SpaceX, Blue Apron, Under Armour, MM.LaFleur, Fast Retailing, NTTi3, Team One, and IDEXX.
FACILITATION EXPERTISE
The power of candor and high-impact conversations when it matters most; Unlocking and unblocking employee performance; Finding your own unique leadership voice; Identifying your superpowers and unique value proposition; Refreshing your leadership brand as you grow; Understanding why what got you here won’t get you there; Successfully transitioning from individual contributor or frontline and mid-level leadership into senior leadership roles; and Developing coaching skills that enable leaders to grow others without directing.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION
MA in Organization Development ─ Fielding Graduate University
BA in Psychology ─ University of Washington
Certified Coach ─ The College of Executive Coaching in Santa Barbara
Certified Coach ─ Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching
Certified Global Leadership Coach ─ Global Coach Group
Graduate level certificate in Evidence-Based Coaching ─ Fielding Graduate Institute
OPERATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Jennifer has worked extensively in the financial services, marketing, consumer goods and human services industries as a dedicated leader building learning and development functions from the ground up. Her work in partnering with business leaders and executives is highlighted by her belief that talent management and leadership development are critical business strategies. She has worked in mergers and acquisitions as well as in start-ups, rapidly scaling organizations, and extensive large-scale change initiatives.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS SECTORS: Entertainment, Healthcare, Biotech, Legal, Finance, Non-Profit
LEADERSHIP LEVELS: VPs, SVPs, EVPs, C‐Suite Executives
ALISON CONIGLIARO-HUBBARD
FOUNDER, THE LENS LEADERSHIP
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Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard helps high-achieving leaders close the gap between how they perform - and how they actually live.
She is the Founder of The Lens Leadership and a former global tech executive who spent more than 26 years building billion-dollar business run rates, most recently serving as Vice President of Product Marketing, where she led global go-to-market strategy and sales enablement for flagship and emerging technologies.
But her work today isn’t a departure from her past ─ it’s an integration of it.
From a young age, Alison developed a deep curiosity about what drives how we think, feel, perform, and lead ─ studying nutrition, movement, recovery, and human behavior long before “wellness” became mainstream. That curiosity evolved over decades through formal education, lived experience, experimentation, setbacks, and growth.
In late 2020, following a cancer diagnosis, Alison stepped away from her fast-paced corporate career ─ what she now calls the pause she didn’t know she needed. That moment became a turning point, crystallizing what she had been observing for years:
Leadership is not separate from how we live. It is the external expression of our internal systems.
Today, Alison works with high-achieving professionals, executives, and organizations to strengthen what she calls Internal Ecology™ ─ the foundation of energy, recovery, mindset, and habits that directly shape clarity, decision-making, and sustainable performance. Her work bridges the gap between wellness and leadership, helping leaders move beyond performance alone to lead with depth, discernment, and long-term impact.
Her approach blends Brooklyn-born candor with California calm and a global perspective, and integrates her work on Smart vs. Wise Leadership and her Leadership Layers framework.
Alison holds coaching credentials from CTI and the ICF, is a certified health coach, and has completed advanced studies through Cornell University (Executive Leadership & DEI), MIT (AI for Business Strategy), and most recently, Harvard Medical School (Lifestyle Medicine Coaching). She is a graduate of the University of Miami.
She has lived and worked globally, speaks Italian, and brings a lens shaped by both boardrooms and real life.
Because how you live… is how you lead.
NANCY DeVINEY
EXECUTIVE COACH
SENIOR CONSULTANT, SHAMBAUGH Leadership
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Nancy DeViney is a Senior Consultant, Executive Coach, and Professional Facilitator for SHAMBAUGH Leadership. Nancy works with senior leaders, helping them enhance their leadership impact and influence to achieve organizational goals. She brings a unique combination of her own global senior leadership experience with a Fortune top 50 company (IBM), along with deep insights and a certification from Columbia University's Executive & Organizational Coaching program. She engages leaders in a proven coaching discipline that is grounded in research, best practices, and whole-brain thinking.
As a passionate supporter of the advancement of women in leadership roles, she is an executive coach and facilitator for women's leadership development programs offered by SHAMBAUGH Leadership. Nancy works with executives across a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biopharma, information technology & services, and travel/hospitality. Her coaching work with leaders includes emotional and social intelligence, building and leveraging relationships, executive presence, communicating for impact, influencing others, strategic thinking, prioritizing and delegating, and personal branding. She has coached executives in the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program.As a senior executive at IBM, Nancy became known for driving collaborative innovation to deliver growth, productivity, and culture change. Nancy held several global leadership roles, including VP of Strategy & Solutions (Global Sales & Distribution), VP of Organizational Change Management, VP of Values & Organizational Capability, and General Manager of IBM Learning Solutions. She also fostered collaborative discussions with hundreds of C-suite clients around the world on the topics of large-scale transformations, leading change, and values-based leadership and culture.
Nancy is a graduate of Bryant College (now Bryant University) and serves on the University’s Board of Trustees. As a lifelong learner, she has attended business management and strategic leadership programs at Boston College, Arizona State University, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Harvard Business School. In addition to Nancy’s Columbia University Coaching certification, she is also certified in Marshall Goldsmith's Stakeholder Centered Coaching, Bates Executive Presence Model, and the Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI) for assessing thinking preferences and leveraging whole brain thinking.
DETHRA U. GILES
CEO, EXECUPREP
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Dethra Giles is a nationally recognized leadership strategist, executive coach, speaker, and communication expert known for commanding rooms, shifting perspectives, and helping leaders communicate in ways that drive real results.
As CEO of ExecuPrep and creator of the DARE™ Model for Conversational Competence, Dethra has worked with leaders and organizations across industries, including the NBA, Kaiser Permanente, Louis Vuitton, Pandora, CAVA, and more. Her work helps executives, teams, and emerging leaders strengthen communication, elevate leadership presence, and transform the way they navigate high-stakes conversations.
A 5-time TEDx speaker and nationally syndicated radio show contributor, Dethra brings strategy, humor, storytelling, and unmistakable “razzle dazzle” to every stage she touches. She is known for delivering experiences that make audiences laugh, think, reflect, and move differently long after the moment has passed.
Her mission is simple: help people stop shrinking in rooms they were meant to lead!
JULIA LAZZARA
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL, SPECTRUM LEADERSHIP ADVISORY
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Julia Lazzara is Founder and Principal of Spectrum Leadership Advisory, LLC, where she partners with organizations to shape strategy and translate it into measurable business outcomes. Her work integrates commercial strategy, operating model and process design, and leadership enablement, bringing the structure, discipline, and accountability required to deliver results.
What distinguishes Julia’s work is her foundation as a commercial operator. She brings 25 years of real-world business experience into her advisory work, helping leaders connect their day-to-day decisions to enterprise performance and position themselves for greater impact.
Julia spent her career in commercial leadership roles across the consumer products and packaging industries, leading B2B sales organizations and complex customer portfolios spanning retail, foodservice, e-commerce, and wholesale distribution. Across leadership roles at General Mills, ConAgra Foods, Lamb Weston, and Berlin Packaging, she consistently delivered profitable growth, strengthened customer partnerships, and built high-performing teams operating at scale.
In her most recent corporate role, Julia led the Wine segment at Berlin Packaging, driving sustained double-digit growth well above industry benchmarks. Her success was rooted in aligning commercial decisions with financial outcomes and leading disciplined cross-functional execution across sales, supply chain, finance, and operations.
She later served as President of a boutique leadership development firm, where she led client engagement, operations, and the design and delivery of customized leadership solutions for global organizations. She oversaw program execution across a team of consultants and facilitators and was instrumental in developing content that connected leadership development to business outcomes.
Julia holds a degree from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and an Executive Leadership Certification from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
ANNE LEETS
EXECUTIVE COACH & CAREER STRATEGIST
LEADERSHIP EXPERT & AUTHOR
CEO, THE LEETS CONSORTIUM
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Anne’s clients find value in her unique combination of global Fortune 500 business experience, highly effective coaching and leadership development skills, and an educational foundation in psychology. Her coaching impact is enhanced by her success in fast-paced, highly competitive environments and the operational knowledge and business acumen she gained as a senior leader in sales, marketing, operations and as a company President and CEO. The powerful combination of her rich diversity of experience and passion for supporting the success of others makes Anne an insightful and innovative coach and leadership strategist. Practical, engaging, and results‐oriented, Anne helps leaders navigate workplace challenges; thrive in changing business and political landscapes; and leverage emotional intelligence to enhance communication, influence, team performance, and organizational and leadership effectiveness.
With her extensive leadership experience, Anne has developed polished, engaging and inspirational presentation and facilitation skills. Her genuine and dynamic style connects with many types of audiences on today’s most important leadership topics.
Her clients lead in all functional areas and at organizational levels, including the “C ‐Suite”, in a wide range of businesses: Caltech, UNLV, Edwards Lifesciences, Experian, Hyundai, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, Pacific Life, USC, United Capital/Goldman Sachs, Ingram Micro, SoCalGas, Farmers Insurance, MGM Resorts International, Microsoft/Blizzard, Sutter Health, Caesar’s Entertainment, H&S Ventures, O’Melveny & Myers, Participant Media, Caltech, Dole, Academy of MPAS, KPMG, NASA/JPL, PNNL, Optum, United Healthcare, LiveNation.
COACHING EXPERTISE
Leading change, leveraging emotional intelligence for team and organizational effectiveness, leadership brand and presence, collaboration, influencing and communication skills, business development strategies, presentation skills, strategic relationship building with colleagues and clients, conflict resolution, strategic thinking with enterprise focus, problem-solving, and development of high-performance teams.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/AWARDS
BA Psychology, State University of New York, College of Executive Coaching
Certified in MBTI, CPI, EQ-i 2.0, EQ 360, EQi 2.0 Team Effectiveness assessments
2021 STEVIE AWARD WINNER for Women in Business, Top 20 Coach in Las Vegas
OPERATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Anne has first‐hand knowledge of what it takes to be effective in a global organization, achieve sales, profit and distribution targets, develop global brand strategy, build high-performance teams, lead change, and accomplish large scale, corporate initiatives. Throughout her career, she consistently led national teams to record results, despite significant economic challenges, reorganizations, downsizing and corporate takeovers. Her diverse leadership and operational experience in Fortune 500 companies with iconic brands make her a highly-valued strategic thought partner. Her coaching effectiveness is enhanced by her hands-on experience in highly competitive and fast-paced corporate as well as entrepreneurial environments. Anne has represented TLC as a coach, speaker, and facilitator since 2014, and now serves as CEO. TLC is “woman-owned” and a “B” Corporation.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS SECTORS: Healthcare, Entertainment, Professional Services, Hi Tech, Education
LEADERSHIP LEVELS: Manager, Director, VP, SVP, EVP, President, C‐Suite Executives
MELISSA MAHER
FOUNDER & CEO, PINNACLE ENTERPRISES GROUP
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Melissa S. Maher is the Founder and CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises Group, a leadership advisory and executive coaching firm partnering with senior leaders, founders, and organizations navigating growth, transformation, and high-stakes moments. A former Expedia Group C-suite executive, Melissa brings decades of experience across travel, hospitality, technology, and global partnerships.
Known for helping leaders sharpen their leadership voice, elevate executive presence, and make confident strategic decisions, Melissa works with executives facing complex change, increased visibility, and evolving stakeholder demands.
She is the author of Holding Your Own: Speaking, Acting, and Winning in the Business World, a practical leadership guide focused on self-advocacy, executive presence, and influence. Melissa is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator, delivering keynotes and executive programs across the travel, hospitality, and broader business ecosystem.
Previously, Melissa served as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Industry Engagement at Expedia Group and was appointed the company’s first Chief Inclusion Officer. Earlier in her career, she led global commercial and partner organizations as Senior Vice President of the Global Partner Group.
A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies with a focus on hospitality leadership, Melissa remains deeply connected to the future of the travel and hospitality industry.
Melissa serves as an advisor to Female Founders in Hospitality, Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, Women in Travel Thrive, and Thayer Ventures, contributing strategic insight at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and growth.
Her leadership has been recognized by Hotel Management as one of the 30 Influential People and by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the 50 Most Influential and 100 Most Inspirational People in the global travel industry.
DR. ANITA POLITE-WILSON
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT, THE LEETS CONSORTIUM
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Dr. Anita is a dynamic facilitator known for delivering engaging, high-impact experiences that connect employee experience, engagement, workforce sustainability, and diversity, inclusion, and belonging to real-world organizational outcomes. She understands the competing priorities leaders face and designs sessions that provide practical insight and actionable takeaways—helping participants see how culture-focused strategies drive performance, collaboration, and long-term impact. Her facilitation style is personable, educational, and thoughtful, grounded in real-world leadership experience. Dr. Anita creates psychologically safe environments that encourage open dialogue and shared learning, blending individual reflection, paired discussions, and purposeful large-group conversation. Each session concludes with a clear 30-day action plan, guiding participants to identify what they will Start, Stop, Do More Of, or Do Less Of to immediately apply insights and strengthen their leadership impact.
Selected audiences and engagements include: the 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference (Maintaining Grace Under Pressure); the Women Presidents Organization professional development webinar on Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; and Logitech G’s inaugural diversity seminar for gamers.
FACILITATION EXPERTISE
Victory Over the VUCA Vortex: Recognizing and Reframing Stress to Your Advantage; Unpacking the BS That Inhibits Belonging; Creating Courageous Conditions, 4.; AI 2.0: Integrating AI (Artificial Intelligence) and AI (Authentic, Intentional) Leadership for Organizational Sustainability
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS
Ph.D. ─ Fielding Graduate University
M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems ─ Fielding Graduate University
M.A. in Organizational Leadership ─ Biola University
B.S. in Management ─ Pepperdine University
Professional Certified Coach (PCC) ─ International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Gallup Strengths-Based Teams (Certified Coach)
Fearless Organization PSI (Certified Practitioner)
Psychological S.A.F.E.T.Y. (Certified Practitioner)
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (AIHR Certified Specialist)
OPERATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Dr. Anita’s former roles include Major Accounts Billing Specialist for Xerox; Senior Sales & Reseller Trainer for Ingram Micro; Manager, HR Training & Development for e Machines; Organizational Development Analyst & Leadership Consultant for ARINC; Strengths-Based Coach for The Aerospace Corporation; and Elevate Faculty, for Rady School of Management
COACHING EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS SECTORS: Aerospace, Government, Academia, Entertainment, Hospitality, Non-Profit
LEADERSHIP LEVELS: VPs, SVPs, EVPs, C‐Suite Executives
REBECCA SHAMBAUGH
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, SHAMBAUGH LEADERSHIP
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Rebecca Shambaugh is an internationally recognized leadership expert, author, and keynote speaker on gender equity and inclusion. She is Founder and President of SHAMBAUGH Leadership, a global leadership development organization whose mission is to develop high-performing and inclusive leaders who transform workplace cultures so everyone can thrive.
Rebecca is also the Founder of Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL), one of the first executive leadership development programs in the United States, dedicated to the research, advancement, and retention of women leaders and executives.
Rebecca has been showcased on CNBC, TED Talks, Fox News (New York), NPR, Washington Business, and ABC. Her thought leadership has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Time Magazine, USA Today, and Fortune Magazine.
Rebecca is a known thought leader in the industry and is the author of the bestselling books It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor and Make Room for Her: Why Companies Need an Integrated Leadership Model to Achieve Extraordinary Results, both published by McGraw-Hill.
Rebecca partners with a cross-section of clients such as Cisco, Dow Chemical, Equifax, Facebook, Hilton Worldwide, IBM, J&J, KPMG, Marriott International, MassMutual, Mastercard, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Voya Financial. She is a member of the National Press Club and the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Rebecca is on the Board of Directors for Women Business Collaborative, on the Board of Advisors for Angelin, Board of Visitors for Marymount University, and is Chairman of the Board of Young Women Lead. Rebecca is a recipient of the Smart CEO Brava! Award, Women Who Mean Business Award, Entrepreneur Organization of the Year Award, and Finalist for the Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award for Woman-Owned Business of the Year.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Behavior/Communications from Purdue University and a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Development from Marymount University.
FASIKA TEFERA
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE CONSULTANT
EXPERT FACILITATOR, SHAMBAUGH LEADERSHIP
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Fasika Tefera is an Organizational Change Consultant, Executive Coach, and Expert Facilitator for SHAMBAUGH Leadership with nearly 20 years of experience in leadership development, team performance, and strategic transformation. She brings deep expertise in helping leaders and teams align human capital with organizational goals to drive sustainable growth and organizational effectiveness.
Fasika partners with public and private sector clients—both nationally and internationally—to design and facilitate tailored, high-impact solutions that enhance team collaboration, employee engagement, and leadership effectiveness. Fasika is also on the faculty and serves as an executive coach for SHAMBAUGH Leadership’s women in leadership and coaching programs. Her facilitation style integrates behavioral science, neuroscience, and assessment tools such as DISC to build trust, navigate conflict, and improve team dynamics. As Program Director and faculty member for Georgetown University’s Organization Development Consulting & Change Leadership Executive Certificate program, Fasika leads the development and delivery of a curriculum that empowers senior leaders and change practitioners to navigate organizational complexity, drive strategic transformation, and cultivate high-performing cultures. She is also a frequent speaker and panelist on topics including emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and organizational change.
Prior to her consulting career, Fasika held leadership roles in the telecommunications industry, supporting sales, operations, and leadership development. She also served as Executive Director of a nonprofit arts organization and partnered with Fairfax County to deliver leadership and team-building workshops, earning the Distinguished Partner Award for her contributions.
Fasika holds an MBA in Organization Development from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington. In addition, she holds certifications as follows: Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching, Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership, International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Coach, PCC The Leadership Circle Profile 360 Assessment, Certified in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and Certified Organization Development Practitioner.
DR. SHERRIE TENNESSEE
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT, THE LEETS CONSORTIUM
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Dr. Sherrie Tennessee is a hospitality and wellness educator, professor, and industry strategist with more than 20 years of experience spanning education, operations, and leadership development. Her unconventional career journey—from zookeeping to spa leadership to academia—gives her a rare, real-world perspective on growth, resilience, and leading through complexity. Sherrie brings these experiences to life through compelling storytelling that resonates deeply with women navigating career pivots, leadership identity, and purpose-driven success.
As a facilitator, Dr. Tennessee is known for creating engaging, inclusive learning environments that blend insight, humor, and practical application. She empowers women to elevate confidence, strengthen professional presence, and lead with intention—particularly in high-touch, high-pressure industries where emotional intelligence, well-being, and human connection are essential. Her sessions connect leadership behaviors to guest experience, organizational culture, and long-term career sustainability, making her especially impactful for women balancing ambition, service, and self-care.
Dr. Tennessee has facilitated workshops, taught, and partnered with a wide range of academic institutions, government agencies, professional associations, and global hospitality organizations. Her ability to translate leadership concepts into meaningful, actionable takeaways makes her a trusted voice for women leaders seeking both professional excellence and personal fulfillment.
Clients and Institutions Include: Baltimore School of Massage; Campus (online college); Federal Service Internships through the U.S. State Department; IECSC Conference; Johnson & Wales University (North Miami Campus); Mandarin Oriental (Washington, DC); National Society of Accountants; Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association; NFC Amenity Management; Sandals Resorts International; TRANSCOM (U.S. Government); University of California, Irvine; University of Maryland; University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); and Virginia State University.
EDUCATION/AWARDS
PhD., Wellness/Technology ─ UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
MBA, Marketing/Entrepreneurship ─ Walden University
Graduate Certificate, Integrative Health and Wellness ─ University of Maryland, Baltimore
OPERATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Dr. Sherrie Tennessee combines academic insight with deep operational experience in hospitality, wellness, and service-oriented business environments. She has served in leadership roles that span spa operations, education management, curriculum development, and organizational training—most notably as Education Manager for Sandals Resorts International’s Red Lane Spas, where she launched and directed professional training programs and workforce development initiatives. Her work integrates guest experience excellence, technology adoption, and workforce capability building, equipping leaders and teams to navigate operational challenges while enhancing service quality and organizational performance.
DAVID YUDIS
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT, THE LEETS CONSORTIUM
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Engaging, provocative, and fun, David is a highly effective facilitator who brings energy, insight, and real-world relevance to every session. He is deeply experienced in working with leaders and teams to strengthen their ability to lead, collaborate, and compete in complex, fast-changing environments. His facilitation style challenges assumptions, sparks meaningful dialogue, and keeps participants actively engaged throughout the experience.
David excels at quickly identifying core strengths and critical development themes within a group, then designing facilitated experiences that align desired outcomes with practical actions and clear measures of success. His sessions are structured, purposeful, and interactive—helping participants translate insight into behaviors that drive performance and results.
With extensive experience navigating matrixed organizations and working across global and virtual teams, David brings a nuanced understanding of diverse perspectives and enterprise-wide dynamics. This allows him to design and facilitate sessions that address complex challenges related to people, strategy, and systems implementation, while fostering alignment and shared ownership.
David has facilitated impactful sessions for a broad range of organizations, including Sony, Blizzard, KPMG, Hollywood Live, 1st Street Mentors, Human Capital Institute, Envelope Manufacturers Association, and the Leading Transformational Change Forum.
FACILITATION EXPERTISE
Executive presence; Owning oneself, one’s role, the room; Navigating politics, play, performance, succession; Inspiring vision/strategy; Innovation; Working with difficult people
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) ─ Widener University, Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology
MBA ─ Widener University, Graduate School of Business
MS Ed ─ University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
BA, Psychology ─ University of Pennsylvania
Licensed Psychologist
OPERATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
During his 12 years with The Walt Disney Company, David held a variety of executive positions with increasing responsibilities across several global operating segments. These positions included a range of specialist and subject matter expertise roles focused on the growth of businesses via innovation, global immersion, and the use of technology on multiple platforms. David has prior M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) experience as a direct partner in the business. He has worked with senior executives and teams from around the world and led the development and coaching initiatives for the organization’s Top 200 leaders.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS SECTORS: Media, Technology, Finance, Healthcare, Professional Services
LEADERSHIP LEVELS: VPs, SVPs, EVPs, C‐Suite Executives
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