USC Women’s Conference

On Friday, March 1, hundreds of alums, supporters, parents, friends, and staff joined us at the 16th annual USC Women’s Conference on our University Park Campus. It was a day of inspiration and empowerment as we heard from barrier-breaking industry leaders and formed lasting connections with fellow Trojans. Check out photos from an amazing day on our Flickr page.

Thanks to everyone who was a part of the conference, see you next year!

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Conference Schedule

Friday, March 1, 2024
University Park Campus

9:00 – 9:40 am | Registration and Continental Breakfast (Alumni Park)

9:50 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Program (Bovard Auditorium)

Get ready to be inspired, informed and empowered at the USC Women’s Conference—where women’s voices and leadership take center stage.

9:50 – 9:55 am | Conference Welcome

Nadine Watt

Nadine Watt MA ’94

President, USC Alumni Association Board of Governors

Nadine Watt was appointed president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors in 2022. She also serves on the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate Advisory Council and the USC Associates Board of Directors. Professionally, Watt brings more than 25 years of real estate expertise and entrepreneurial drive to her position as CEO of Watt Capital Partners, a diversified and full-service real estate company. She oversees the firm’s day-to-day activities and strategic planning for all commercial investment activities, including acquisitions, development, and asset management for its 6 million-square-foot portfolio. In addition, Watt recently concluded her tenure as the first woman chair of the Los Angeles Business Council. She is a USC School of Cinematic Arts alum.

9:55 – 10:30 am | The Power of the Trojan Family

In an increasingly interconnected world, the power of collaboration within the Trojan Family is vital for addressing complex global challenges. Our visionary leader, USC President Carol Folt, will share how the university has become a beacon of unity and cooperation for tackling issues that affect us all.

USC President Carol L. Folt

Carol L. Folt

President, University of Southern California

Dr. Carol Folt serves as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California and holds the Robert C. Packard President’s Chair. Known for always placing students at the center, she is a collaborative academic leader and an internationally recognized life scientist, with faculty appointments in biological sciences, civil and environmental engineering, and population and public health sciences. Since joining USC in 2019, Dr. Folt has advanced academic excellence and innovation; increased accessibility and affordability; elevated belonging and inclusion; driven significant growth in the USC Health System; made meaningful advancements in sustainability; prioritized shared governance; enhanced USC’s winning legacy in athletics with honor and integrity; increased cross-school collaboration; built a new Capital Campus in the heart of Washington D.C., expanding USC’s role within the national conversation; amplified USC’s research enterprise; and established USC’s most comprehensive academic and research initiative, embedding ethics, analytics, and artificial intelligence across the university’s scholarly and creative work. Dr. Folt also serves as the chair of the Association of American Universities (AAU) Board of Directors.

10:30 – 11:30 am | The Power of Having a Seat at the Table

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the profound impact and significance of having a seat at the table. In a landscape where access to leadership roles is paramount, join the conversation as we explore the critical importance of diverse representation and leadership. Discover the far-reaching implications these elements hold for institutions, communities, and society as a whole.

USC President Carol L. Folt

Carol L. Folt

President, University of Southern California

Dr. Carol Folt serves as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California and holds the Robert C. Packard President’s Chair. Known for always placing students at the center, she is a collaborative academic leader and an internationally recognized life scientist, with faculty appointments in biological sciences, civil and environmental engineering, and population and public health sciences. Since joining USC in 2019, Dr. Folt has advanced academic excellence and innovation; increased accessibility and affordability; elevated belonging and inclusion; driven significant growth in the USC Health System; made meaningful advancements in sustainability; prioritized shared governance; enhanced USC’s winning legacy in athletics with honor and integrity; increased cross-school collaboration; built a new Capital Campus in the heart of Washington D.C., expanding USC’s role within the national conversation; amplified USC’s research enterprise; and established USC’s most comprehensive academic and research initiative, embedding ethics, analytics, and artificial intelligence across the university’s scholarly and creative work. Dr. Folt also serves as the chair of the Association of American Universities (AAU) Board of Directors.

Suzanne Nora Johnson

Suzanne Nora Johnson ’79

Chair, USC Board of Trustees

Suzanne Nora Johnson made USC history in 2022, when she was named the first woman chair of the USC Board of Trustees. A trustee since 1998, she is the former vice chair of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., where she also served as the chair of the Global Markets Institute and was a member of the firm’s management committee. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Nora Johnson was an attorney with Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett and worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals. She currently serves as chair of Intuit, Inc.’s board of directors, and on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including the Brookings Institution, the Broad Foundation and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Nora Johnson is a USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alum.

11:30 – 11:40 am | Facilitated Wellness Break

Stretch, breathe and get your blood moving during the first of our two facilitated wellness breaks!

Maricris Lapaix

Maricris Lapaix MCG ’12

Founder, Move with Maricris

Maricris Lapaix is a fitness professional who has built a global audience of nearly 17,000 followers through her Move with Maricris brand. Using experiential fitness exercises in her virtual and in-person workouts, Lapaix helps people build strength and improve mobility. A contributor for such major health and wellness brands as Women’s HealthSelf and the Nike Training Club, she is also one of the leading fitness experts for Chris Hemsworth’s training app, Centr. Lapaix is a USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alum.

11:40 – 11:55 am | The Power of Navigating Your Career

Navigating the intricate pathways of a career can be daunting without support and guidance. Drawing from her own experiences, our speaker will address the importance of finding mentors and sponsors who can make a profound impact on your professional life.

Tracy Arceci

Tracy Arceci

Global Commercial Bank Market Executive, Pacific Southwest Region
Bank of America

Tracy Arceci is a Los Angeles-based global commercial bank market executive for Bank of America’s Pacific Southwest Region. Her team of Los Angeles and Ventura County-based banking professionals work closely with commercial business clients with annual revenues from $50 million to $2 billion; these clients represent a wide range of industries, including consumer products, distribution, service, agriculture, green economy, food and beverage, beauty and more. Throughout her career, Arceci has been recognized for delivering growth, opening and growing new markets and deal negotiation. The Los Angeles Business Journal recently named her a “2024 Woman of Influence” in Finance.

12:00 – 1:15 pm | Lunch (Alumni Park)

1:30 – 2:10 pm | Breakout Session Round I (Various Locations)

2:25 – 3:05 pm | Breakout Session Round II (Various Locations)

(Please note, breakout sessions will be the same for each round.)

Resume Review and Coaching by the USC Career Center

Location: USC Career Center
Target Audience: Exploration and Entry/Career Change and Transition
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

Jump-start your career journey with the USC Career Center! Participate in a one-on-one coaching session focused on transforming your resume into a powerful self-marketing tool, and receive tailored guidance on job search strategies, interview preparation and networking techniques.

Leadership vs. Managership

Location: MCB 102 (Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience)
Target Audience: Mid-Career
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

Push boundaries and challenge outdated orthodoxies in a candid conversation about the unhealthy workplace norms that drain and deplete us. Leaders will play with possibility, be coached in inclusive flexibility, and learn to measure/adapt team processes. Join the revolution and redesign work to serve people, not the other way around.

Nora Delay

Nora Delay MS ’19

Organizational Experience Designer, Four Spire

Nora Delay is an organizational expert, private leadership coach and founding partner at Four Spire. Her keynotes and workshops challenge audiences to reimagine how leaders can boldly create cultures of dignity, innovation and inclusion. Audiences love her playful sense of humor and frank approach to naming what we get wrong about leading culture. Executives love her honest feedback and fresh ideas that leverage positive psychology, spirituality and ecology to create workplaces that recharge, rather than drain, people. During her prior tenure at Deloitte Consulting, Delay modernized their go-to-market POVs for leadership and well-being. She is a USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alum.

Welcome to the Jungle: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Corporate World While Finding Your Passion, Purpose and Dream Life

Location: USC Bovard Auditorium
Target Audience: Advancement and Growth
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

A dynamic session designed to empower young women navigating the intricate terrain of their careers from their 20s to their early 40s. Delving into the challenges and triumphs of building a career and a life with purpose, this session offers real talk for real women. Attendees will gain invaluable insights and practical advice for not only surviving the corporate jungle but thriving in it—while simultaneously discovering and pursuing their passions, as well as learning tools to uplift and support fellow women on their journeys to success and fulfillment.

Teena Hostovich

Teena Hostovich ’86

Vice-Chair Pacific Region & Partner, Lockton

Teena Hostovich is a 30+ year industry veteran and internationally recognized authority on professional liability and risk management. She is the vice chair of the Pacific Region for Lockton Companies, the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage. In this position, Hostovich oversees government relations and focuses on solidifying Lockton’s external engagement efforts with regional and national legislators. A champion of company culture and community impact through strategic philanthropy, Hostovich has also advanced women’s leadership initiatives and cultural growth in diversity and inclusion at Lockton. She is a USC Marshall School of Business alum who served on her alma mater’s Board of Leaders Executive Committee for more than eight years.

Empowering Your Journey: Discovering and Applying Your Core Values for Career Success

Location: TCC 450 (Ronald Tutor Campus Center, The Forum)
Target Audience: Advancement and Growth
Topic: Personal Transformation

Sharpen your career focus with our interactive workshop! Discover your core values and learn how to align them with your personal and professional goals and use them to resolve challenges. Elevate your career journey by joining us today!

Priya Kapoor

Priya Rana Kapoor ’93, MMFTH ’06

Executive Life Coach, PRK Coaching

Priya Rana Kapoor is a life coach with a worldwide clientele and the founder of Give Yourself Permission® Empowerment Programs. The author of two books, Give YourSelf Permission to Live Your Life and the Give YourSelf Permission Anthology, she has been a guest on NBC’s Today Show, BBC Radio Asia and Hay House Radio, and regularly speaks at events and facilitates workshops. In 2018, she opened the USC London Office. She currently serves on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors and the USC Dornsife Alumni Advisory Council. Kapoor is double USC alum, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the USC School of Dramatic Arts and the USC Rossier School of Education, respectively.

Power of Participation for Brain Health

Location: ANN 106 (Wallis Annenberg Hall)
Target Audience: Mid-Career
Topic: Health

You know that startling moment when you can’t for the life of you recall why you walked into a room? But here’s some good news: progress is being made in research and this session will help empower you with ways to participate and improve your brain health.

Doris Molina-Henry

Doris Molina-Henry

Assistant Professor of Research Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI)

Doris Molina-Henry is an assistant professor of research neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI). As a member of the ATRI leadership team, she focuses on the science of recruitment and retention of diverse participants into clinical trials. Currently, she works on evaluating strategies that promote the participation of cognitively unimpaired, at-risk, diverse adults in studies that aim to help prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s well before they begin.

Lupe Morales

Lupe Morales

Advocate, Aging and Brain Health Equity

Lupe Morales is an accomplished leader in cross-sector organization development and talent acquisitions, and is a committed advocate for aging and brain health equity. Her transformative journey was catalyzed by her role as a caregiver for her mother, Josie, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. A devoted fundraiser and donor for the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Morales recently completed the USC Davis School of Gerontology’s fundamentals of gerontology certificate program, solidifying her dedication to the cause.

The Crucial Role of Mentorship and Sponsorship in Career Growth

Location: Alumni Park (Stage 1)
Target Audience: Mid-Career
Topic: Mentor and Mentee Relationships

Mentorship and sponsorship are invaluable career-building tools. However, 60% of people do not have mentors or sponsors in their career. We’ll review the 4Ws framework—a new way to shift your old mindset—to help you find a mentor or sponsor, keep accountable and achieve some of your greatest career growth.

Ashima Sharma

Ashima Sharma ’14

Founder and CEO, Dreami

Ashima Sharma is the CEO of Dreami, a tech startup dedicated to bridging talent to opportunity via scalable career development programs. She began as a chemical engineer, where she experienced difficulty accessing tailored career support. After pivoting to the tech industry, Sharma developed corporate strategy at Cisco and led product strategy at Zendesk. Since its founding, Dreami has helped more than 6,000 users and achieved a 94% program approval rating. Sharma is a USC Viterbi School of Engineering alum.

Embracing Your Power to Create a More Inclusive World

Location: IYH 210/211 (USC Iovine and Young Academy)
Target Audience: Advancement and Growth
Topic: Diversity, Access and Inclusion

Inclusivity amplifies our voices, celebrates diversification of thought and promotes authenticity. This session will teach you to embrace the power you hold to create a more inclusive world.

Rhesa Singleton

Rhesa Singleton MCM ’21

DEI and Employee Engagement Lead, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Rhesa Singleton has devoted her life to promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), managing programs, giving talks and establishing support groups for marginalized communities. As the co-founder/president of the nonprofit Sisters Involved in the Community, she spent eight years empowering young women through various events, service initiatives and outreach projects. Additionally, Singleton founded the first employee resource group (ERG) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Her leadership in expanding the USC Viterbi School’s ERG offerings has significantly impacted the school’s culture, fostering a more diverse, inclusive and equitable environment. Singleton is a USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alum.

“Take the Bull by the Horns”: Embrace Your Power in a Career Change or Transition by Harnessing the Essentials of Personal Transformation

Location: TCC 350/351/352 (Ronald Tutor Campus Center)
Target Audience: Career Change and Transition
Topic: Personal Transformation

Embracing your power in a career change/transition means listening to what time is currently asking of you and being willing to grow. Role-changing isn’t easy and can be unexpected. Learn how to REDEFINE professional identity, INTUIT where you are on your “preparation roadmap” and ACHIEVE true personal transformation.

Shea-Alison Thompson

Shea-Alison Thompson ’95, MS ’00, EdD ’17

Teacher, Writer, Entrepreneur, L.I.F.T. the Teacher

Shea-Alison Thompson is a devoted teacher, writer and entrepreneur with nearly 30 years of classroom experience. She has taught regular and special education classes to students in all grade levels, from pre-K to college, in urban and rural schools. Thompson currently teaches online and provides coaching services for K-12 teachers who need encouragement and support. She recently launched L.I.F.T. the Teachers, an online business, and is also completing her debut novel. She comes from a family of Trojans and is a triple USC alum, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC Rossier School of Education, respectively.

Career Harmony: Managing Your Professional and Creative Goals Through Automation

Location: TCC 302 (Ronald Tutor Campus Center)
Target Audience: Entry and Exploration
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

Balance your professional career with a creative freelance career by harnessing the power of automation. Learn how automation and workflows can transform your creative passions into an extra-income stream. You will learn practical strategies to harmoniously manage both your professional and creative careers.

Lorraine Wheat

Lorraine Wheat MFA ’20

Media Coordinator, Paramount Global

Lorraine Wheat balances her writing and directing career with her work as a media coordinator for Paramount Global’s post-production operations. In this position, she crafts promos for CBS and Paramount Plus and provides media management support for the company’s digital content groups. Her social justice short film, Heart of Compton, earned Wheat the Panavision New Filmmaker Program Award, as well as coverage in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. A 2023 Unlock Her Potential mentee, Wheat is also a member of the Anaphora Arts Publishing 2024 cohort and is writing a young adult romance novel. She is a USC School of Cinematic Arts alum.

Well-Being and Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging: You Can’t Have One Without the Other

Location: LAW 103 (USC Gould Musick Law Building)
Target Audience: Entry and Exploration
Topic: Diversity, Access and Inclusion

Well-Being or Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB)—is one more important than the other? The fact is, it’s IMPOSSIBLE to have one without the other. Let’s put an end to treating wellbeing and DIB as separate initiatives, where we’re forced to prioritize one over the other.

Nickey Woods

Nickey Woods EdD ’15

Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and Dean of Students for the JD Program, USC Gould School of Law

Nickey Woods is associate dean for student affairs, diversity, inclusion and belonging, as well as the dean of students for the JD program, at the USC Gould School of Law; she previously served as USC Gould’s inaugural assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. She currently chairs the USC Gould First Generation Professionals Program and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Committee. In addition, Woods serves as the faculty advisor for the Student Bar Association, Law Students for Better Health, the Disability Law Society and the Sports Law Society. A former all-conference basketball student-athlete at UCLA, she regularly collaborates with USC Athletics. Woods is a USC Rossier School of Education alum.

Develop Your Sustainable Personal Brand

Location: IYH 212/213 (USC Iovine and Young Academy)
Target Audience: Entry and Exploration
Topic: Wellness and Personal Transformation

Learn best practices to develop your personal brand as part of a sustainable 360° wellness toolkit, which will enable you to pursue a more balanced, happy and fulfilling life.

Bentley Curtis

Bentley Curtis ’10, MS ’16

CEO and Founder, Bentley Curtis Inc.

Bentley Curtis is the CEO and founder of Bentley Curtis Inc., a global executive coaching, 360° wellness, and image consulting company. Her unique approach combines best practices—from personal branding, self-introspection, style, beauty, grooming and professional organization techniques—to use as tools for achieving wellness, balanced living and success. Curtis is a double USC alum, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, respectively. In addition, she has completed a Riordan MBA Fellowship at UCLA; earned a personal styling certification through the School of Style; and participated in the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program, which has been recognized by the U.S. Congress, the California State Senate, and the California State Assembly.

Coming Out on Top: Women in Entrepreneurship

Location: Alumni Park (Stage 2)
Target Audience: Entry and Exploration
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

Statistics show that women are better entrepreneurs than their male counterparts. However, barriers to advancement loom large, including funding disadvantages, imposter syndrome and a lack of mentorship. Learn how our panelists broke through these barriers to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Renee White Fraser

Renee White Fraser PhD ’81

Founder and CEO, Fraser Communications

Renee White Fraser, a renowned entrepreneur, psychologist and philanthropist, is the visionary leader behind Fraser Communications, one of California’s largest woman-owned advertising agencies. Under her leadership, the agency has crafted award-winning social impact campaigns for major clients, addressing such issues as public health, environmental sustainability and racial justice. Fraser is also a social psychologist who blends academic expertise and media savvy; she has appeared on CNN and hosts a podcast, The Dr. Renee Fraser Show, Why Women, on KABC.

Active in philanthropy, she serves on the boards of the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. Fraser is a USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alum.

Adina Savin

Adina L. Savin ’70

Founder and President, Savin Stories, Inc.

Adina L. Savin is a veteran entertainment industry executive who founded Savin Stories, Inc., a film and television production company, after a nearly 23-year tenure at Disney Branded Television. Over the course of her 35+ year career in entertainment, Savin negotiated, supervised and/or personally concluded tens of thousands of television series and movie deals for live-action scripted, unscripted and animated projects. Her career also includes many “firsts”: the first head of business and legal affairs for Warner Bros. Television Distribution; the first head of television business and legal affairs for Carolco Pictures; and the first head of business affairs for Disney Branded Television. Savin is a USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alum.

Nicole Steen

Nicole Steen ’02

Founder, Nicole Steen Fitness

Nicole Steen, one of the leading fitness experts and celebrity trainers in Los Angeles, motivates her growing clientele to achieve and surpass their goals with her “Let’s all win” philosophy. A former USC Song Girl and professional dancer, Steen teaches in a variety of formats, including dance, Zumba, Buns Of Steen® booty toning, Tone N Twerk, barre, sculpt, HIIT and kickboxing. She is a regular on the KTLA Morning News and Fox 11’s Good Day LA, and has been featured in SELF magazine. In honor of the Hollywood Sign’s centenary, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recently named her “Hollywood’s Favorite Celebrity Trainer.” Steen is a USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alum.

From Vision to Victory: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs on Their Journeys

Location: TCC 227 (Ronald Tutor Campus Center)
Target Audience: Entry and Exploration
Topic: Leadership and Career Management

The path to entrepreneurship is different for every woman. Some invest their personal savings, while others start their companies as side hustles. Learn how three accomplished women broke through barriers and fostered relationships to build their businesses.

Clara Paye

Clara Paye ’99

Founder & CEO, UNiTE Food

Clara Paye is the founder and CEO of UNiTE Food, which makes protein bars with global flavors that are nutritious, gluten-free and delicious. Since its launch in 2020, UNiTE has been a nationwide success, selling at top retailers like Target, Sprouts and Albertson’s/Safeway. Paye is a USC Marshall School of Business alum.

Liz Steblay

Liz Steblay ’86, MBA ’95

Founder & CEO, ProKo Agency

Liz Steblay is the founder and CEO of ProKo Agency, which connects independent consultants with Fortune 500 clients. She is also the co-founder of the Professional Independents Consultants (PICA), an educational organization that helps people launch and grown their own businesses. Her book, Succeeding as a Solopreneur: Six Keys to Taking the Leap, Winning the Clients and Building Wealth, will be published in March 2024. Steblay is a double USC Marshall School of Business alum.

Amy Rice

Amy Rice ’88

Youth Education Manager, Women Founders Network

Amy Rice is a Marshall alumna and received her BS from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 1988. She also received an MA in 1996 from UC Santa Barbara. Amy is a seasoned Entrepreneur Advisor with a strong background in finance. She is known for her dedication which extends beyond an advisory role to encompass mentorship and motivation. Amy’s collaborative efforts with entrepreneurs results in the transformation of their visionary ideas into tangible realities.

Bianca Vobecky

Bianca Vobecky

Founder & President, Vobecky Enterprises

Bianca Vobecky founded Vobecky Enterprises, a business dedicated to providing construction and construction-related services, in 2006. Since then, Ms. Vobecky has been dedicated to building meaningful professional relationships with a focus on customer service. As a corporate global citizen, Ms. Vobecky realizes how important it is to give back to the community that has helped her in growing her business. Ms. Vobecky serves on the boards of several organizations that promote small & diverse businesses. One of her proudest accomplishments is helping her daughter Monique Vobecky form the Little Sunshine Foundation (a 501C3 non-profit organization) when she was 14 years old, an organization that helps underserved youth with academic & sports programs while also empowering them to become leaders in their community.

3:20 – 5:00 pm | Afternoon Session (Bovard Auditorium)

Round out the conference as we hear from industry experts on issues affecting women every day.

3:20 – 3:30 pm | Facilitated Wellness Break

3:30 – 4:10 pm | The Power of Leveraging AI for Women by Women

We hear a lot about the threats posed by AI, but it can also be harnessed for good—specifically, the empowerment of women. Learn how how women-led AI initiatives can promote inclusivity, break barriers and create opportunities for women.

Alice Chang

Alice Chang

Founder and CEO, Perfect Corp.

Alice Chang is the founder and CEO of Perfect Corp., the leading artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) beauty and fashion tech solutions provider. She is also the developer of the company’s award-winning YouCam apps, which enable consumers to try on products, looks and styles virtually, using their smart device; to date, hundreds of millions of consumers have used this innovative technology to complete billions of virtual try-ons. Perfect Corp.’s customer roster also includes 17 of the world’s 20 largest beauty companies—Chanel, Estee Lauder and Revlon among them—encompassing 450 brands. Prior to founding Perfect Corp. in 2015, Chang served as the CEO of Cyberlink Corp. She currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan.

Adrienne Bankert

Adrienne Bankert ’02

(Moderator)

Special Projects Anchor, NewsNation

Adrienne Bankert is an Emmy® Award-winning veteran journalist who currently serves as NewsNation’s special projects anchor. She joined NewsNation in 2021 as an anchor/correspondent, covering national affairs and delivering special reports across the network’s prime-time weeknight news broadcasts. Bankert previously served as a New York-based correspondent for ABC News, reporting breaking news, and has also reported extensively on the entertainment industry. From 2017 to 2019, Bankert served on the weekend anchor team for Good Morning America. Bankert is the author of Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness that Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone. She is a USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alum.

4:10 – 4:50 pm | The Power of Collaboration to Fight Cancer

Learn about the latest science and the future of early breast cancer detection using a simple blood draw in this informative panel discussion. Our distinguished panelists will explain how the simplicity of the blood draw, combined with today’s sophisticated understanding of breast cancer through advanced mathematics, can bring confidence to the 70 million American women at risk for this deadly disease.

Peter Kuhn

Peter Kuhn

Dean’s Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering and Urology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Director, Convergent Institute in Cancer (CSI-Cancer)
Co-Founder, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience Bridge Institute
Founding Member, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences

Peter Kuhn is a scientist and entrepreneur with a career-long commitment to personalized medicine and individualized patient care, with a focus on the redesign of cancer care. His research team in physics oncology has discovered new ways of how cancer spreads to the human body, and is using these breakthroughs to impact patient care that is biologically informed and clinically actionable. Prior to joining USC in 2014, Kuhn established a translational science program at The Scripps Research Institute, where he brought together more than 40 scientists from basic, engineering and medical sciences to study cancer. Kuhn is also the founder of Epic Sciences, Inc., a premier partner to most pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the development of precision companion diagnostics for cancer care.

Jorge Nieva

Jorge Nieva

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Jorge Nieva joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 2014. He previously served as department chair and a program leader at the Billings Clinic in Montana, where he established the center’s multidisciplinary lung cancer and head/neck cancer clinics. During his tenure at Billings, Nieva led efforts to create a research program in virus-delivered cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy. Earlier in his career, while on the faculty of the Scripps Research Institute, he pioneered new technology for the detection of cancer cells in the peripheral blood and discoveries related to the fundamental mechanisms of the immune system.

Assad Oberai

Assad Oberai

Hughes Professor and Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Assad Oberai leads the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Computation and Data Driven Discovery Group, which designs, implements and applies data-and physics-based models and algorithms to tackle problems in engineering and science. These include the need for better detection, diagnosis and care for diseases like cancer, as well as understanding the role of mechanics and physics in medicine and biology. In 2023, Oberai was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics, a prestigious honor only presented to one individual each year. He currently serves on the editorial boards of three journals, including Plos One, a peer-reviewed open access mega journal published by the Public Library of Science.

Amy Ross

Amy Ross PhD ’86

(Moderator)

USC Trustee and Distinguished Cancer Researcher

USC Trustee Amy Ross worked in the cancer diagnostics field for more than 25 years. In her research, she focused on the detection of low numbers of tumor cells in the circulation of cancer patients as a means of identifying early relapse in order to successfully intervene. Ross is the author of over 75 scientific publications and the holder of three U.S. patents. The current vice chair of the USC Health System Board, Ross also serves on the boards of the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation and USC Arcadia Hospital. She is a Keck School of Medicine of USC alum.

4:50 – 5:00 pm | Closing Remarks (Bovard Auditorium)

5:00 – 6:00 pm | Closing Reception (Alumni Park)

2024 Conference Sponsors

Become a Conference Sponsor

Elevate your brand’s visibility and support empowerment by sponsoring the USC Women’s Conference. Join us in reaching a diverse and influential audience of leaders, professionals, and forward-thinkers. Explore the myriad sponsorship opportunities available and learn more about our engaged attendees by reviewing our informational packet.

Women’s Conference 2024 Demographics and Sponsorships

Any questions? Email Ashley Bonanno-Curley at bonanno@usc.edu.


Presenting Sponsors

Bank of America
Perfect

Hecuba Sponsor

Teena Hostovich


Gold Sponsor

Rapaport Dermatology and Skinceuticals


Cardinal Sponsors

American Pacific Mortgage

Brookdale Senior Living

Port of Long Beach

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association

USC Black Alumni Association

USC Career Center

USC Gould School of Law

USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association

USC Latino Alumni Association

USC Marshall School of Business


USC Alumni Association Premier Sponsors

Bank of America
Association Member Benefits & Insurance Agency
Liberty Mutual Insurance
USC Credit Union

Women’s Conference Photos

Videos

2022 USC Women’s Conference Clips

Welcome & University Greeting

Co-Chairs Karen Carr-Crawford MPA ’83 and Eva Iino welcome conference participants to kick off the 2022 USC Women’s Conference.

What Leaders are Made Of

USC President Carol L. Folt and Willow Bay, Dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, share their thoughts of modern leadership.

Sheroic Tales of Activism

USC’s Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08 introduces this panel discussion that includes Christopher Manning, Vice President, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer; Sheryl Evans Davis EdD ’20, Executive Director, San Francisco Human Rights Commission; and Joanna Joyce Weiss JD ’97, Founder/President of WAVE (Women for American Values and Ethics).

Making Entertainment Diverse, Inclusive & All-Embracing

A panel discussion with Poppy Hanks ’95, Executive Vice President of Production and Development, MACRO; Leslie Lehr ’82, A Boob’s Life, Pegagus Books, HBO Max, Truby Writers Studio; Liza Pano ’90, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Distribution Services, Paramount Pictures; and Tiffany Everett ’02, Senior Marketing and PR Professional.