2025 Simmons Leadership Conference Speakers
This year’s speakers inspired attendees as they shared their personal journeys, delivered powerful career-building insights, and sparked engaging, thought-provoking discussions on the transformative theme of Leading Change. Attendees left empowered and motivated to make an impact.
Keynotes & Fireside Chats
Tiffany Dufu
President of the Tory Burch Foundation
Susan MacKenty Brady
CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall
CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, President & CEO, Marshalling Resources Consulting, Retired AT&T Executive and Author
Jessica O. Matthews
CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate
Brooke Shields
Actress, Model, Author & Entrepreneur
Visionary Leader Award Winner
Featured Speakers
Sophia Kianni
Founder of Climate Cardinals, Youngest Appointed United Nations Advisor & Social Entrepreneur
Lele Mason
Applied Improv Facilitator
Yolanda McLean
Senior Director, Global Quality Control, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Track Featured Speaker
Tamara Nolte
Applied Improv Facilitator
Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten
President, Simmons University
Second City Works
Global Leader in Improv-based Learning
Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva
Founder and Chief Reinvention Officer, The Reinvention Academy
Executive Panelists
Dr. Maha Radhakrishnan
Executive Partner, Private Equity Sofinnova Investments
Track Featured Speaker
Katie Catlender
Chief Operations Officer, Point32Health
Sherifa Hady
VP of Worldwide Midmarket & SMB Sales, HPE
Julie Lane
Sr. Director, Social Impact and Inclusion Office, Cisco
Gregory Martin
Director, Behavioral Insurance Activation, John Hancock
Denise Millard
Chief Partner Officer, Dell
Dr. Angela Patterson
Enterprise Chief Nursing Officer, CVS Health
Track Featured Speaker
Dr. Heather Shlosser
Dean, School of Nursing, Simmons University DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Track Featured Speaker
Dr. Laura Wood
Boston Children’s Hospital’s Exec VP, Patient Care Operations, System Chief Nurse Exec, and Sporing Carpenter Chair for Nursing Track Featured Speaker
Faciliators & Emcees
Joyce Kulhawik
Emmy-award winning Broadcast Journalist, CBS NEWS, GBH News “The Culture Show,” President Boston Theater Critics Association
Kristen Palson
COO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and Executive Producer, Simmons Leadership Conference
Kerry Seitz
Vice President, Women’s Leadership, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Elisa van Dam
Vice President, Allyship & Inclusion, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership