Registration/Reception: 8:30 – 9:00 am
Conference: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm ET

Americas Society
680 Park Avenue
New York
Live Broadcast

Live broadcast

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

For the first time in three years, our Women’s Hemispheric Network’s flagship conference in New York City was back in person.

Registration/Reception: 8:30 – 9:00 am
Conference: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm ET

Americas Society
680 Park Avenue
New York
Live Broadcast

Live broadcast

Share

Overview

Join us for a series of thought-provoking conversations on women’s leadership, representation across industries, and rediscovering your career path. Our 11th Annual AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network Conference will be hosted in person for the first time in three years, featuring women leaders and male allies for a discussion on women's empowerment and leadership in the Americas. This year, we are tackling important questions related to diversity and representation across sectors, work-life balance, and taking the risks to build the career you want. The conference will also include networking sessions and our always-inspiring table leader conversations over lunch.

Follow the discussion on Twitter: #womenASCOA | @ASCOA

Speakers

  • Jeannine Acevedo, Partner, White & Case LLP
  • Sarah Aiosa, SVP & President, Latin America, Merck
  • Shelly Banjo, New York Bureau Chief, Bloomberg
  • Julianne Canavaggio, CEO Latin America (Ex. BraMex), Lazard
  • Rafael Chaves, Global Policy & ESG Executive Director, Organon
  • Nur Cristiani, Head of Latin America Investment Strategy, J.P. Morgan's Private Bank
  • Ambassador Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo, Consul General, Consulate General of Brazil in New York
  • Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Managing Director & Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, BlackRock
  • Pippa Scarlett, Head of Global Government Affairs, RELX
  • Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

Registration has been closed for this event. We are at capacity. If you would like to request a spot on the waitlist, please email nyip@as-coa.org.   

This program will also be streamed live. Return to this page at the time of the event to watch it.

For more event information: women@as-coa.org
Sponsorship Opportunities: Ana Calderon at acalderon@as-coa.org
Press Inquiries: mediarelations@as-coa.org

Agenda

The agenda below is in Eastern Time.

Download a PDF of the agenda.

8:30 – 9:00 am Registration and Breakfast

9:00 – 9:05 am Welcoming Remarks

  • Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA

9:05 – 9:30 am Keynote Remarks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speakers

Jeannine Acevedo
Partner, White & Case

Jeannine Acevedo is a seasoned New York project finance partner, who focuses on the development and financing of power and infrastructure projects in Latin America. She regularly represents sponsors and creditors, in complex cross-border financial transactions, particularly in...

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Philippa Scarlett
Head of Global Government Affairs, RELX

Philippa Scarlett is the head of worldwide government affairs and policy at RELX, a U.K.-based public company with over 33,000 employees globally and which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for customers in more than 180 countries.

Previously, she served as...

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Sarah Aiosa
SVP & President, Latin America, Merck

Sarah Aiosa has been serving as SVP and President, Latin America for MSD (known as Merck & Co. Inc, in US and Canada) since February 1, 2022. In her current role, she sets the strategic direction and oversees pharmaceutical operations in human health across all Latin American...

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Ambassador Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo
Consul General, Consulate General of Brazil in New York

A career diplomat with extensive experience in promoting Brazil’s interests before a number of international organizations, Ambassador Farani Azevêdo is the new Consul General of Brazil in New York, as of April 1st, 2021.

During her accomplished career, Ambassador Farani Azevêdo...

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Michelle Gadsden-Williams
Managing Director & Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, BlackRock

Michelle Gadsden-Williams is the Managing Director and Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for BlackRock. She is an award-winning global diversity executive, author, activist, producer and philanthropist with more than 25 years of experience as an advocate for equality...

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Julianne Canavaggio
CEO, Latin America (Ex. BraMex), Lazard

Julianne Canavaggio is an investment banker and lawyer with over 20 years of experience working in the US and Latin America. She is the CEO of Lazard Latin America (Ex. BraMex).

In her client work, Julianne works with business leaders, entrepreneurs and families as a trusted...

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Nur Cristiani
Head of Latin America Investment Strategy, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Nur Cristiani is currently head of Latin America investment strategy for international private banking at J.P. Morgan. Her main responsibility is to direct the narrative of the strategy and communication to clients and investors for Latin America of Private Banking. Prior to this...

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Shelly Banjo
New York Bureau Chief, Bloomberg

Shelly Banjo is the New York Bureau Chief of Bloomberg, overseeing more than 1,100 journalists at the company’s world headquarters, as well as Bloomberg’s news coverage of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She also sits on Bloomberg’s equality task force.

Previously, she was...

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Susan Segal
President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

Susan Segal was elected president and CEO of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas in August 2003 after working in the private sector with Latin America and other emerging markets for over 30 years. A passionate supporter of Latin America, she joined the organizations...

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WHN Lead Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
With the Support of
Table Leader Supporter

Merck & Co., Inc.