2025 WLC Speakers

Read about our speakers and topics for WLC 2025!

PHYLLIS A. JAMES

Founding President & CEO, Foundation for Women’s Leadership & Empowerment 

  • 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. 

KRYSTAL ALLAN

Communications Professional & Emcee

  • KRYSTAL ALLAN has proudly called Las Vegas home since 2011. In a city known for constantly evolving, Krystal has embraced the Vegas spirit of growth and change. In late 2023, she joined the Office of Communications for the city of Las Vegas. Krystal is ecstatic to serve the community in this new role. You can catch her reports on KCLV-TV, Channel 2 and the city’s social media platforms. 

    Prior to her new role, Krystal worked in local news. For years, she was a familiar face on News 3 (the local NBC affiliate) and the CW. Southern Nevadans welcomed Krystal into their homes on some of the station’s top rated newscasts. She served in many roles but primarily worked as a morning/midday anchor and reporter.  

    The daughter of two educators, Krystal is passionate about organizations championing children and education. She is a board member for Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada. The non-profit is the nation’s leading dropout prevention program and operates in 110 schools statewide. In addition, she loves reading, volunteering and mentoring children at local schools. 

    Krystal has received numerous professional accolades including an Edward R. Murrow award and multiple Emmy nominations. She’s also a Top 40 Under 40 honoree, Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, iHeartMedia Women Who Shine honoree, Top 100 Woman of Las Vegas and Woman of Distinction honoree. Born and raised in the Midwest, Krystal feels blessed to use her skills to serve the Las Vegas community. Hard work and humility is the motto that guides her each day. 

MAKEDA BROWN

Senior Consultant, Leading NOW

  • MAKEDA BROWN, Senior Consultant with Leading NOW, specializes in Professional and Leadership development. She dedicates herself to helping individual leaders as well as teams unleash their potential to create value and achieve results. She has helped individual contributors and leaders accelerate their ability to navigate their professional journey, embrace their authenticity and manage change.  

    Makeda has over 25 years of experience developing and delivering talent strategies that maximize business results. As a former Executive Human Resources Leader, Makeda advised and partnered directly with Senior Executives in R&D, Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing, and Corporate Functions (Finance, IT, Compliance, Strategy, HR, Legal) across global organizations in the Pharmaceutical, Technology and Food/Hospitality industries. She also served as the Global Succession Planning leader for a large, multi-national company. In this role, she facilitated the accelerated development required to ready diverse leadership talent to assume critical roles and to lead productive teams.  

    Makeda earned a M.S. degree in Human Resources Development from Villanova University and a B.S. degree in Business Management from the Pennsylvania State University. She also holds Executive Coaching certifications from the International Coaching Federation (PCC) and from International Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). 

    Makeda is an active member of several business and people strategy associations including the Philadelphia Society of People and Strategy (PSPS) and the Association of Talent Development (ATD). She has previously served on the Boards of KenCrest Services and International Coach Federation (ICF) Philadelphia Chapter. 

COURTNEY BURTON 

Senior Consultant, Leading NOW

  • COURTNEY BURTON, Senior Consultant with Leading NOW, is a catalyst for professional and personal growth in individuals and teams. Her work centers on guiding leaders through organizational culture change initiatives, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and communication enhancement. 

    With over 30 years of experience, she has served as the Vice President of Sales at Curry Sales, responsible for driving strategic priorities, building and maintaining strong relationships with business partners and clients, and ensuring ongoing business growth. Prior to that role, Courtney led high-performing merchant and cross-functional teams at major retailers, such as Target, CVS, and Albertsons. During her tenure, she developed strong communication and collaboration skills and gained expertise in navigating complex business environments. 

    Courtney's unique blend of business acumen and creative spirit is a powerful combination that she incorporates in her facilitation and coaching work. She has a deep passion and track record in equipping individuals and teams with the necessary tools to build stronger relationships, understand their strengths, and navigate interpersonal dynamics with grace and empathy. Leveraging this, Courtney coaches her clients to create cohesive and energized teams focused on achieving their goals. Her ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and inspire meaningful conversations has helped organizations create more positive and productive environments, fostering a sense of shared purpose and belonging. 

    Courtney is an authorized partner and certified trainer for Wiley Brands: Everything DiSC® and Five Behaviors™ and is a certified Adult Mental Health First Aider. She has a B.A. in Public Administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.  

    Courtney also sits on the AARP-MN Volunteer Executive Council, focusing personal attention on assisting their Livable Community and Caregiver advocacy initiatives. And, she has been honoring her creative muse as a jazz vocalist for over twenty-five years. 

CASSI CHANDLER

Motivational Leadership Expert,

FBI’s First African American Female Special Agent Assistant Director

  • CASSIE CHANDLER is an innovator, strategist, investigator, and leader who has broken barriers, led diverse teams, and built cultures of motivational leadership and belonging at some of the world’s most important organizations, including Bank of America and the FBI. In a career that has included many “firsts” across the U.S. government and financial services industries, she served as the FBI’s first African American female special agent assistant director as well as the Bureau’s first female national spokesperson and director of public and community affairs. The founder, president, and CEO of Vigeo Alliances – a leadership and talent risk management partner helping organizations elevate their cultures of belonging – Chandler is dedicated to helping organizations position themselves for success by building more diverse and inclusive cultures that thrive. 

    Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Chandler draws from her personal experiences leading diverse teams as a change agent in a broad range of fields to facilitate honest conversations on what can be achieved when organizations go “all in” on leading with purpose. In addition to defining the tools motivational leaders need to mindfully build more high-performing cultures, Chandler provides actionable insights on how to move the needle while leading with empathy as a servant leader. An engaging storyteller, she immerses audiences as she retraces her journey reinvigorating the world’s leading intelligence organizations in the post-9/11 landscape, managing risk, and driving global equity at one of the world’s top multi-national banks. Her exploration of the influences that impact perceptions of diversity is integral for any organization focused on establishing a more inclusive vision. 

    Prior to Vigeo Alliances, Chandler was senior vice president for business operations at Bank of America, where she led enterprise-wide teams and developed integrated frameworks for identifying and addressing cybercrimes, fraud trends, and consumer risks. She also served on the corporation’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and led the bank’s compliance relationships with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Before Bank of America, she spent 23 years with the FBI, where she directed white collar crimes, financial crimes, terrorism, and cybercrimes investigations and foreign intelligence activities, while also leading the evolution of its healthcare fraud and criminal and domestic terrorism intelligence programs. 

    Chandler continues to drive organizational change as a former adjunct professor on intelligence and terrorism at Pace University’s master’s in public safety and homeland security program and as an instructor at the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle. As part of her commitment to impacting progress, Chandler served as an independent federal monitor with the NYPD, and a monitor with the City of Aurora Police and Fire Departments. She also served on the U.S. Marine Corps Red Team, which monitored the Corps’ assessment of expanding infantry officer roles to women. She has been a member of numerous charitable and diversity boards, including a member of the League of Women Voters and Rotary Club International. Chandler chaired the Nomination and Governance committee while a member of the Board of Directors of Leafly Holdings, Inc., and served on the Audit Committee. 

    Chandler’s groundbreaking accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive under President George W. Bush, the National Center for Women & Policing’s “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” award, and the Norfolk NAACP Trailblazer Award. In 2023, she was named one of World’s Leaders Magazine’s “World’s Trailblazing Females Making a Mark in Business.” 

    She earned her B.A. from Louisiana State University, where she served on the board of the alumni association, and her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, where she later became a member of the board of trustees.  

    • Renowned for breaking glass ceilings and becoming the FBI’s first African American female special agent assistant director 

    • Draws from decades leading complex teams in the U.S. government and financial industries to empower companies to build more inclusive cultures 

    • Transformational voice who empowers organizations to go “all in” on leading with a sense of purpose 

    • A captivating storyteller who shares thought-provoking lessons and actionable insights on motivational leadership 

ALISON CONIGLIARO-HUBBARD 

Senior Consultant, Leading NOW

  • ALISON CONIGLIARO-HUBBARD, Senior Consultant with Leading NOW, has over 26-years in global tech enterprise Sales and Product Marketing Leadership within large and mid-sized enterprises, such as Cisco, Brocade, Autodesk, Riverbed, and a start-up exit to Microsoft. Alison has driven and experienced business growth from a wide range of perspectives and was an integral part of the team that initially took the Cisco storage networking and data center business from $0-$1 Billion. 

    Alison has developed a network that is vast and diverse, with long-term relationships from the C-suite to all business functions, crossing a variety of industries, interests, cultures and backgrounds. She is a bridge-builder and inspiring communicator, currently speaking on topics that include ‘Resilient Leadership through Adversity and Change’, ‘Mental Fitness for Those Who Lead’, and ‘The Power of Connection: Building Lifelong Networks’. 

    A graduate of the University of Miami, Alison also holds advanced certifications from the International Coach Federation – ICF (ACC) and Co-Active Training Institute (CPCC), and from Cornell University in Women's Executive Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion. She has a lifelong passion for whole wellness, incorporating her ‘Four Pillars of Wellness’ into her leadership coaching, and is a certified holistic wellness coach and former fitness trainer. 

MICHAEL DOMINGUEZ

President & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International (“ALHI”)

  • MICHAEL DOMINGUEZ serves as the President & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International (“ALHI”).  ALHI is the largest Global Sales Organization with a team of nearly 80 professionals located among 26 offices across North America and Europe. Prior to joining ALHI, Michael served in executive sales leadership roles with MGM Resorts International as Chief Sales Officer and many brand and independent branded companies. 

    Michael is an-award winning hospitality industry veteran. He has received multiple honors for his leadership and influence and has been recognized as a change agent by his peers. He’s also been a speaker with Fortune 100 Companies on topics ranging from disruption to the economy and a passion around Leadership and was an invited speaker at SXSW in 2018. 

    Michael’s other industry leadership involvement includes board positions with:

    • US Travel Association (Executive Committee & Officer) - Current

    • Meetings Mean Business Coalition (Executive Committee) - Current

    • Co-Chair EIC’s Taskforce on COVID Recovery

    • AMCI’s Board of Directors - Current

    • ASAE’s Board of Directors

    • FICP’s Influence Committee

    • APEX Standards Committee

    • GBTA Foundation Board

    • HSMAI Foundation Board

    • Co-Chair APEX Room Piracy Taskforce

    Michael has been recognized in the industry for numerous honors including:

    • HispanicBusiness.com’s “50 Most Influential Hispanics in the US”

    • MPI’s 50th Anniversary – “50 Most Influential”

    • ECPAT USA, 2022 Freedom Award

    • Induction in the EIC’s Hall of Leaders 2019

    • HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Award in Sales 2021

    • MeetingsNet – Changemakers 2022 & 2014

    • Connect Magazine – “15 over 50” 2021

    • BizBash 500: Must Know Event Pros 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021

    • M&C Magazine’s Top 25 Influencers of 2020

    • Successful Meetings Top 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry 2013-2015

    • Smart Meetings 2015 Smartest Industry Leaders

    • HSMAI’s 2014 Top Minds in Sales and Marketing

    • Meetings Focus 2014 Trendsetter

DOROTHY DOWLING

ISHC (International Society of Hospitality Consultants)

  • DOROTHY DOWLING, ISHC (International Society of Hospitality Consultants) is a seasoned management consultant and growth advisor. As Managing Director, Horwath HTL and Principal at Introspect Strategic Advisory Services, she applies her many years of experience advising the global hospitality industry. She started Introspect Strategic Advisory Services to support global hospitality industry clients with go-to-market strategies to help grow scale, revenue, and profitability with services ranging from repositioning to commercial business planning and activation. Throughout her journey, Dowling has always been a student of the game, learning from subject matter experts wherever she has traveled to ensure she can bring optimum solutions that drive performance for partners and customers for both domestic and global activation opportunities.  

    In addition to her consulting work, Dowling also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Compensation Committee, and Member of the Governance Committee for CubeSmart, a real estate investment trust and the third largest owner and operator of self-storage properties across the United States. (CUBE:NYSE) 

    Dowling holds an Honors BA and an MA from the University of Waterloo in Canada; has completed executive education at both Harvard and MIT; is a NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) Certified Director and has completed postgraduate D&I and ESG certifications through Cornell. 

ALANA HILL

Senior Consultant, Leading NOW

  • ALANA HILL, Senior Consultant with Leading NOW, is an international change leadership expert, inspiring professionals to lead change in themselves and others to create inclusive, resilient, and competitive organizations. She is a passionate energy industry veteran who has paved the way for women leaders, with a focus on women of color. 

    During a colorful career in the energy industry working with the international technology corporation SLB (formerly Schlumberger), she not only managed multiple change initiatives, but she also learned to drive an 18-wheeler! Her experience as an engineer and project manager in talent development has provided real‐world insight into how people and teams can excel. 

    With over 25 years of cross-functional leadership and training expertise, Alana has worked with global Fortune 500 corporations, small technology companies, and non-profits to help individuals and organizations accomplish their goals by utilizing sharp analysis, strategic planning, and interpersonal skills development. 

    Alana holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and currently resides in Houston, TX. 

    Alana is also the author of “What’s Your Catalyst? The Power of Managed Change,” where she guides her readers to discover how purpose and passion will give them greater influence and impact on the world around them. 

CHRIS JOHNSON

Founder/CEO of On Target Living

  • CHRIS JOHNSON is the world expert in unlocking human potential. As founder/CEO of On Target Living, Chris is a highly respected expert and accomplished executive who has spent over 30 years researching and building optimal performance programs for individuals and corporations. He is the architect of the Food Target® that shifts from counting calories to concentrating on the nutrient values of foods that guide healthy choices. 

    Chris likes to say he was ‘raised by wolves’. Growing up struggling with terrible skin and chronic health issues, he had no idea how his lifestyle affected his health. The doctors couldn’t help him, and despite all the medications they prescribed, his health did not improve. By his mid-20s, deeply frustrated and feeling hopeless, Chris set out to heal himself. On his quest he learned how food affects the body, the importance of sleep, and why people need to move. These discoveries transformed his life. Conditions which plagued him for years disappeared, and his energy and attitude reached new heights. Amazed at how good he felt, Chris knew he’d found his calling and needed to share his discoveries. 

    Today Chris is an international speaker, thought leader and best-selling author on how to feel your best through healthy living. He works with individuals and organizations to transform their performance from the inside out. He applies the principles of REST | EAT | MOVE to educate, engage, and inspire teams around the world. His company On Target Living connects with more than 300,000 people a year. 

    Chris graduated from Michigan State University with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics from Western Michigan University. He holds certifications from The American College of Sports Medicine, The National Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise and Certified Natural Health Professional. 

    Chris earned and maintains a reputation of providing groundbreaking lifestyle modification strategies with integrity, humor, and passion. He loves to spend time and play with his five grandchildren. He lives in Michigan with his wife Paula and dog Floyd. 

KATH KOSCHEL

Founder, Kindness Factory; Resilience Expert

  • A testament to the power of human spirit, KATH KOSCHEL is a survivor who has overcome incredible odds and unimaginable tragedy to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Koschel is a former professional cricketer and Ironman competitor whose world came crashing down when she broke her back twice in the span of five years and was told that she would never walk again. Instead, she faced the challenges head-on and defied all medical prognosis by teaching herself to walk again on three separate occasions. In the midst of these harrowing experiences, she believes she experienced two things in large amounts: adversity and kindness. After relearning to walk for the second time in her life, this realization kickstarted a 2-month journey around Australia which relied solely on the kindness of strangers. No cash, credit card food or water – and no help from family or friends! 

    Driven by a passion to spread gratitude and kindness sin the world, she founded Kindness Factory™ with the goal of encouraging one million acts of kindness. To date, Kindness Factory has recorded over 7 million acts of kindness and is now a registered not-for-profit in three countries. 

    An internationally sought after speaker and author of “Kindness” the book, Kath has worked with some of the biggest and most well-known companies and brands in the world to help them achieve perspective, resilience, good culture and of course, kindness. 

ANNE LEETS

CEO, The Leets Consortium

  • ANNE LEETS, CEO of The Leets Consortium, is a powerhouse facilitator for the Women’s Leadership Conference. She is a dynamic keynote speaker, executive coach, published author, and sought-after facilitator. She is known for her ability to inspire, engage, and drive meaningful conversations on today’s most important leadership topics. With a commanding presence and practical insight, Anne delivers high-impact keynotes and creates memorable and impactful sessions that resonate across diverse audiences, from frontline managers to the C-suite. 

    She brings first-hand knowledge of “what it takes to thrive and succeed in global organizations.” She has driven sales, profit, and distribution growth, developed global brand strategies, led change, and executed large-scale corporate initiatives. Anne’s deep leadership and operational expertise spans Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Training, honed through Director and Vice President roles at Fortune 500 companies with iconic brands. Her experience was further solidified in General Manager, President, and CEO positions. 

    Throughout her career, Anne led national teams through complexity to record-breaking performance despite economic uncertainty, reorganizations, mergers, and acquisitions. Her real-world experience in fast-paced corporate environments and entrepreneurial ventures informs her powerful coaching and facilitation style. 

    What sets Anne apart as a facilitator and keynote speaker is the unique blend of business acumen, emotional intelligence, and a passion for unlocking leadership potential. Practical, engaging, and results-driven, she helps leaders navigate disruption, strengthen communication and influence, and elevate team and organizational effectiveness. 

    Anne’s polished and relatable presentation style ‒ marked by authenticity, energy, and clarity ‒ creates connection and impact. Whether leading executive retreats, large-scale leadership conferences, or team workshops, Anne captivates her audience while delivering practical tools they can immediately apply.  

    Anne is proud to partner with organizations across a wide range of industries and functional areas (such as United Healthcare, Amazon, Disney, MGM Resorts International, Hyundai, and Bath & Body Works). Her coaching and consulting support the success of leaders at all levels with leadership development strategies that deliver measurable and sustainable results.

SONITA LONTOH

Sunrun Board Director

  • SONITA LONTOH is an accomplished independent board director with expertise in innovation, digital transformation, and climate. She currently serves on the boards of Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN), the largest consumer solar and battery as a service company in the US; and TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), a global workforce solutions company which in the past three years has connected more than 2 million people to work. She is also an advisor to Sway Ventures, a Silicon Valley Venture Capital (VC) firm investing in the sustainable transformation of foundational industries. 

    Prior, over her three decades of diverse global career as a senior executive at both new innovative businesses within large global Fortune 100 companies ‒ such as HP, Siemens, PG&E, and at entrepreneurial, VC-backed Silicon Valley technology companies, she led programs that have delivered positive impact to businesses, consumers, and society. She is a purpose-driven leader passionate about advancing technology for humanity. 

    Sonita has been recognized by the White House, the US State Department, Directors & Boards, San Francisco Business Times, and has been inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. She serves on the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Blue Ribbon Commission on board culture and on the World Economic Forum/NACD climate advisory council. 

    She is NACD-directorship and climate certified, DDN-cybersecurity certified, and has completed the Stanford Directors College and Harvard Business School’s certificates for board Audit and Compensation committees. Sonita is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northwestern's Kellogg, and UC Berkeley. 

LIMARIE PERRY

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Associated Luxury Hotels

  • As Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Associated Luxury Hotels, LIMARIE PERRY is a dynamic senior finance executive with over 25 years of experience leading finance and operations across diverse industries. As a strategic CFO, she translates financial vision into business growth through operational excellence and relationship-driven leadership. Limarie has successfully led high-performing teams within multibillion-dollar enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures, driving profitability, efficiency, and cultural transformation. With deep expertise in the hospitality and corporate sectors, she offers real-world, actionable insights on aligning finance with purpose, people, and performance. 

DR. LALIA RACH

Executive Managing Director of Strategic Advisory Services at (“ALHI”)

  • DR. LALIA RACH is the Executive Managing Director of Strategic Advisory Services, a division of Associated Luxury Hotels International (“ALHI”). In this role Lalia is responsible for developing and delivering strategic and managerial consulting services to member hotels and clients.  

    Lalia is known for her practical, informative, and entertaining presentations, whether providing a keynote speech, a workshop, or emceeing a conference. Her first book, “Managing the Book on You: Rewriting your Leadership Story!”, is designed as a workbook to assist leaders in better managing old impressions and views about their leadership ability held by others within the organization as they progress to more senior positions. It is available on Amazon as a paperback, in the Audible format, and on Kindle. 

    As the founder and partner of Rach Enterprises, a consulting firm that takes an uncommon sense approach and delivers genuine ideas that challenge tradition, Lalia is a trusted adviser to senior-level executives at many leading organizations. As a university educator, Lalia served as dean at several top hospitality and tourism programs. At New York University, her leadership ability resulted in the creation of one of the world’s most innovative graduate and undergraduate programs in the business of hospitality, sports, and tourism.  

    Among her awards and honors are the 30 Most Influential International Hospitality Educators by the International Hospitality Institute; Influential Women in Hospitality: Hotel Management magazine; Smart Women in Meetings: Visionary from Smart Meetings Magazine; the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International; one of the 33 Most Influential People in the Travel Industry from Travel Weekly; featured in “Meet the 25 Most Influential Women in Travel” by Forbes Life Executive Woman; recipient of the Professional of the Year Award from Big Apple Chapter Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association; and recipient of the Special Hospitality Award recipient from NYC & Co. 

    Lalia holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

LISA SUN

Founder & CEO, GRAVITAS; Former McKinsey Associate Principal; National Bestselling Author

  • What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? LISA SUN, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company and 11 years running the game-changing company GRAVITAS. She offers talks that change the way you and your organization think about strengths, motivation and leadership. 

    Lisa Sun’s career journey has been shaped by resilience, a quality she champions as an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. After receiving pointed feedback early in her career, Sun transformed this moment into a powerful drive to inspire others. This resilience led her to create GRAVITAS, an innovative brand that empowers everyone—regardless of race, creed, and gender—to be the best, most confident versions of themselves.  

    Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Sun draws on her entrepreneurial drive and business acumen honed from her time at McKinsey to underscore why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. She defines research-backed confidence languages, helps each audience member uncover their own unique “superpowers,” and unlocks the secrets to high-performing leadership. Praised for her passion and warmth, Sun has shared her sought-after insights and research-driven strategies with several of the world’s leading organizations, including Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, Mortgage Bankers Association, HSN, and more. In 2024, Sun was recognized as Toastmasters International’s Centennial Golden Gavel Recipient, awarded for excellence in communication and leadership. 

    With an unwavering dedication to helping others show up as the best version of themselves, Sun authored the national bestselling book Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. In the book, she shares the ups and downs of her own journey, and gives the reader the tools to flex their strengths to shatter expectations and find success. Gravitas is a USA Today bestseller and reached number one on the Amazon bestseller list for its genre. 

    • Has led transformative change with clients like Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, and HSN by harnessing people’s strengths  

    • Uses research-backed methods, engaging anecdotes, and interactive sessions to help audiences uncover unique talents 

    • Former McKinsey Associate Principal with 11 years of experience, bringing data-driven strategies and high-impact leadership insights to audiences worldwide 

DR. QUENDRIDA WHITMORE

Senior Consultant, Leading NOW

  • DR. QUENDRIDA WHITMORE, Senior Consultant with Leading NOW, gained her extensive career experience leading teams in the retail industry for more than 25 years. Her career journey started with Target Corporation, where she served in various areas of the organization, specifically, as a buyer in merchandising, director in loss prevention, and senior director in operations. She subsequently moved to Ross Stores, where she was promoted to regional vice president of operations. She then became a senior vice president in hospitality and operations with WeWork as Head of Community, in the United States, Canada, Peru, and Costa Rica. 

    Quendrida received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, her master’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas Woman’s University, and her EdD (Doctor of Education) degree from the University of Southern California with a focus on Organizational Change and Leadership. 

    A 2023 Executive-in-Residence at Boston University School of Hospitality, Quendrida is also a certified coach having earned her CPCC (Certified Professional Career Coach certification) from Co-Active Training Institute. A member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality and Women in Retail Leadership Circle, Quendrida coaches and speaks frequently at their respective conferences. 

If you are interested in becoming a future speaker or would like to recommend a future speaker, please submit a photo, biography and press kit (if available) to:

wlc@fwle.org