Registration, Breakfast and Networking

Opening Remarks and Kickoff

William Hardin, Dean, FIU College of Business
Diann Newman, Vice Dean, FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Ebony Smith, Founder, Ebenum Equation

Keynote Speaker – Rita Ferro (MIB ’03) Embracing Flexibility and Change

Rita Ferro’s career journey is a fascinating one - navigating through a male-dominated industry to rise to become one of Disney’s top executives. Ferro will share her insights on her path to success, why she’s stayed at Disney for 25 years, and how her role continues to evolve. In this inspirational keynote address, she uses experiences from her storied career to discuss the importance of agility and flexibility for women leaders, how to embrace change, and the power of individuality.

Keynote Speaker – Rita Ferro (MIB '03), President, Advertising Sales, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution

Session #1
Gen Z and Millennials in the Workplace

There is a lot of buzz around Millennials and Gen Z, but little research as a combined workforce bloc. Yet this group will influence the future of business and management for decades to come. Maribel Diz, senior vice president of the People Team at Visa Inc., will discuss how managers can connect with this critical group of employees in ways that differ from previous generations and leverage insights for a workplace that optimizes and retains talent and share her research findings on several disconnects between what managers think this combined bloc wants from their leaders and what they are actually looking for.

Maribel Diz (DBA '21), Senior Vice President Human Resources, Visa

Session #2
The 5% Shift that will Transform 95% of Your Life

Working on hybrid teams has become the norm, yet it’s often challenging to build a positive team culture and lead meetings with teammates on different schedules and in various offices around the country. We’ll show you how to strengthen your hybrid team, build trust, and communicate effectively while helping others nurture resilience, practice empathy and demonstrate adaptability.

Ebony Smith, Founder, Ebenum Equation

Session #3
Positive Mindset: How to Boost and Accept Your Body

This breakout session will focus on a topic most women obsess about: Body Acceptance. WSVN and Deco Drive Anchor, Lynn Martinez, will delve into this psychological topic, how a woman can accept their body. Lynn will show us techniques and tips learned from her own experiences and work with her personal trainer, Massi Miranda. Massi will join Lynn to teach attendees ways to reach self-acceptance, working with what you have, having a good mindset, and not comparing yourself with others.

Session #4
Shifting Diversity into High Gear

Diversity contributes to the creativity of the workplace and to innovative solutions to troubling problems. How can executives work with diverse teams to encourage that creativity? Four South Florida female executives share personal experiences on how they dealt with barriers to diversity, their top tips on how to expand diversity and inclusion, and the best ways to promote a diverse hiring pool.

Gimena Basauri, International Business Development, Baptist Health
Dineen García, Esq. (She/Her/Ella), Co-Founder, Chief Operation & Inclusion Officer Inclusent
Carla Harris, Managing Director, The People Institute (Moderator)
Cathy Pareto, Founder and President, Cathy Pareto and Associates

Rev Up and Stretch Out

Samantha Reynolds leads a 15-minute stretching session. Reynolds is a lifestyle architect, international yoga teacher and creative entrepreneur. She transformed her career from working in international development with orphaned youth and education in the Czech Republic and Rwanda to health and wellness. Reynolds has more than seven years’ experience working in the wellness industry and some of her clients include PMG, Capital One and Body Glove.

Samantha Reynolds, Lifestyle Architect, International Yoga Teacher

Employee to Boss: Accelerate Your Move to the C-Suite

Women comprise 67% of students in university hospitality programs, but only 11% of hospitality C-suite executives. This disparity is true in many other industries. What key factors can kick your career into high gear? Four female executives share stories about what has contributed to their successes, their approach to overcome challenges, building a support system, and what drives and inspires them. They’ll talk candidly about managing work/life balance, taking risks, overcoming obstacles, and learning to advocate for themselves. From their stories, you’ll gain insights into their professional philosophy and hear the advice they would give their younger selves about moving into C-suite positions.

Stacy Silver, President, Silver Hospitality Group (Moderator)
Frances Gonzalez, Vice President, Radisson Hotel Group
Lani Kane-Hanan ('87, MS '04), Executive Vice President and Chief Development and Product Officer, Marriott Vacations Worldwide
Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global Chief Executive Officer, JLL Hotels & Hospitality

Session #5
Slowing Down to Speed Up for Success

Buzz words like “productivity”, “resilience”, “being-busy”, and even “success” have taken on entirely new meanings for all of us since the global health crisis. This high-energy and interactive session will be a space for participants to check-in with themselves, reflect on the present moment, and to incorporate Dale Carnegie’s timeless principles to refocus on the mindset and toolset necessary to get to success.

Christine Ramirez, Managing Partner, Dale Carnegie Training, Southeast Florida

Session #6
Wine Down at Power Up

Learn the tricks of the trade and begin to taste wine like a sommelier. We’ll learn the basic steps of professional wine tasting. We’ll also discuss the dos and don’ts of ordering from a restaurant wine list.

Stephanie Honig (BA ’97), Director of Communication, National Sales and Export, Honig Vineyard & Winery

Session #7
The Drive to be Different: How to Stand Out

Inspired by the “Ser Diferente Es Ser Fuerte” chapter of Jefa in Training, audiences will leave with the knowledge to be able to define the unique value they bring to the table as well as the inspiration on how to use this unique perspective to their advantage in their careers and businesses.

Ashley Stoyanov Ojeda, Author and Business Development Coach

Session #8
Need to Shift Gears? Put HR in the Driver’s Seat.

This panel brings together human resource leaders to share successes and lessons learned over the past two years. What new employee needs emerged? How did they get a seat at the key decision-makers' table? What can others—both inside and outside HR—do to help their organization's leadership see the important strategic role that HR can play in the new shifting work environment?

Maria Fico, Director, HR Business Partner CSL Behring
Yvonne Alfonso Santana (MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP), Vice President, Human Resources Kingsway America Inc.
Brooke Buckman, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, FIU Business (Moderator)

Interactive Q & A / Closing Remarks

An interactive conversation with our college leaders to reflect on the day’s activities, key takeaways and new connections.

William Hardin, Dean, FIU College of Business
Diann Newman, Vice Dean, FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Ebony Smith, Founder of Ebenum Equation